In February 2001, Minister for Education & Science, Dr. Michael Woods T.D., announced the provision of 50 wholetime equivalent posts for guidance to commence in the school year 2001-2002. Unlike previous allocation of guidance posts, schools were invited to propose innovative actions to enhance guidance for students.

The new posts were allocated on the basis of an objective assessment of these proposals. Priority was given to schools putting forward proposals to develop and strengthen formal links with business and the local community, targeting disadvantage and promoting the up-take of science at senior cycle.

Almost 400 proposals were received for this initiative by June 2001. They were assessed by an advisory committee including NCGE, the Inspectorate of the Department of Education & Science, representatives of school management, teacher unions, the Institute of Guidance Counsellors IGC, Irish Business and Enterprise Confederation IBEC, Irish Congress of Trade Unions ICTU and other relevant organisations and agencies. 50 WTE posts for guidance were allocated to 103 second level schools in August 2001.

This initiative was extended for a further two years in 2004 with the allocation of 30 additional WTE posts to 78 schools. The GEI is reviewed by the Department though its Guidance Inspectors. Research would suggest that GEI schools are more likely to view guidance programme planning as a whole school responsibility, to have initiated guidance planning in their schools and to have guidance measures as part of the junior cycle.

Download Press Releases from Department of Education and Science here
GEI 2001 and GEI 2004

Further information regarding the progression of the Initiative can be obtained from info@ncge.ie