Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 3

Written Answers. - Educational Psychologist Appointments.

Mary Wallace

Question:

206 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the number of educational psychologists who have been appointed in the past 12 months; the location of such appointments on a county by county basis; the reason there are no educational psychologists in County Meath; the immediate action, if any, she can take to ensure that an educational psychologist is available to County Meath students to avoid the situation whereby a remedial teacher identifies a County Meath student requiring assessment by an educational psychologist but the student can only have such an assessment if the parents can afford it on a private basis at a cost of £165, and further to avoid the detrimental effect that the absence of such an assessment can have on a student with dyslexia refused the special arrangement at exam time due to the absence of an assessment from an educational psychologist; and in view of the urgent need for an appointment to be made in County Meath of an educational psychologist, if she will make a statement on the matter. [23346/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

No psychologists have been appointed by my Department during the past 12 months. There is a psychologist available from my Department to second level schools in County Meath. Parents may access this service through the second level school attended by an individual pupil. Psychologists serving second level schools carry out assessments as the resources of time and personnel allow. There is no fee charged.

There is a psychological service from my Department available to primary schools in a very limited number of areas with priority given to schools serving disadvantaged areas. The service to primary schools has not been extended to the Meath area as yet.

In general, responsibility for arranging for the psychological assessment of children in national schools, where such is deemed necessary, is a matter for the regional health boards through the appropriate director of community care. Parents may access this service through the school medical service or the family doctor.

Parents may, of course, make arrangements privately for psychological assessments, if that is their wish. The fee charged is not a matter within my control.

When it becomes possible to have further expansion of the Department of Education's psychological service, the needs of children and schools in County Meath, and in other areas, will be borne in mind.