asked the Minister for Education the arrangements which have been made to bring about a liaison between health and educational psychology services in order to ensure a more efficient delivery of such services to pupils.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Psychology Services.
26.
There are no formal liaison arrangements between the psychologists employed by my Department and those employed in the health services but I understand that there are good communications between them at local level.
In line with the proposal at paragraph 4.4 of the Programme for Action in Education 1984-87, ongoing meetings are being held with the Department of Health with a view to strengthening the assessment service being provided for children with special problems.
Is the Minister aware that there are serious difficulties with regard to the provision of special education on an assessment basis? Is he aware that there can be delays of between six and 12 months in the case of many pupils, from the date of referral from the classroom to the date of assessment? Will he not agree that that in itself can cause considerable damage to a pupil already at acute disadvantage because of some disability? Therefore, will he not accept that there is need for greater liaison and for the establishment of some formal structure to break down that kind of barrier?
I have a particular interest in this area. The informal liaison between the two groups of psychologists has worked very satisfactorily up to now and there has been no great demand for change. Paragraph 4.4 of the Programme for Action stated that it is proposed to enter into discussion with the Department of Health with a view to strengthening the assessment service. If the Deputy has specific instances of the delays to which he has referred, I should be glad to take them up. I can assure him I have a special interest in this area myself and I would like to see the assessment service strengthened.
I can give the Minister many examples of long delays which have obtained for some time. It appears the Department of Health are not unduly sensitive to the problem and that the Minister's own Department are not willing to tackle the problem of delays when pupils are referred to assessment centres. I should like him to deal with that question before we finish. I should also like him to address the question of how meaningful are the assessments carried out in the classroom. I do not know if the Minister is aware——
Will the Deputy please put a question? He is making speeches.
Clinical findings cannot be translated easily into a teaching situation. Will the Minister accept the need for an overall co-ordinating body to bring together all the interests involved in the area of special and remedial education?
I am personally interested in this area and I should like to see the service operating at the highest level possible. If the Deputy has specific instances of delays or where failure has occurred, I ask him to let me have the details and I shall see to it personally that they are dealt with so far as possible within the resources available.