Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 4

Written Answers. - Psychological Service to Schools.

William Cotter

Question:

22 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Education the number of psychologists employed by her Department; if she will outline their area of competence; her views on whether the psychological service to schools is operating satisfactorily; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

There are 25 permanent and three temporary inspectors of guidance service and psychology employed in my Department.

The functions of the psychological service and guidance inspectorate at post-primary levels are (1) to support and monitor the guidance system in post-primary schools; (2) to provide training in remedial eduation for post-primary teachers; (3) to provide support for remedial teachers in their schools; (4) to organise inservice training for both guidance and remedial teachers and, to the extent possible, to be available for consultation about individual difficulties which students may have; (5) work in the area of health education e.g. the development of an AIDS education package plus associated inservice training for teachers; (6) support of pilot projects in health education; (7) development of a substance abuse educational project plus associated inservice training; (8) gender equality projects, contribution to curriculum development projects and to programmes such as youthreach and (9) advise the Department on special arrangements in public examinations for certain pupils experiencing psychological and learning difficulties.

I have long been aware of the need to develop the psychological service in primary schools. For this reason in 1990 I was very pleased to have established a pilot psychological service to primary schools in three areas.