asked the Minister for Education the number of psychologists employed by his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Psychologists in Department of Education.
31.
The number of psychologists at present serving on the staff of the Department is three. A competition will be held immediately by the Civil Service Commissioners for the recruitment of a further five psychologists. A scheme has been initiated whereby a number of teachers are released with pay to attend a course leading to a Diploma in Psychology in UCD. The object of the scheme is that a pool of psychologists should be created for the purpose of recruitment to the Department through appropriate competitions. It is the intention to go on recruiting until we have about 25 such officers.
Might I ask, in the name of Providence what are we going to do with 25 psychologists in the Department of Education?
You will need them all.
I do not blame General de Gaulle when he looked at the Sorbonne and said: "What are we to do when we produce 200 psychologists a year?" Send them over to Ireland? What are they going to do?
There is plenty for them to do.
Child guidance, career guidance.