Michael Finucane
Question:215 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a visiting education psychologist for a school (details supplied) in County Limerick which has disadvantaged status. [4378/97]
Written Answers. - Psychological Service.
My Department's psychological service to primary schools was initiated with a pilot project in West Tallaght/Clondalkin and South Tipperary during 1990. This psychological service was further expanded during 1995 with the recruitment of ten psychologists. In determining where they would be deployed, priority was given to certain named schools serving disadvantaged areas in the cities of Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
There have been requests for the extension of this service to a number of other areas, including areas designated as disadvantaged. However, due to the need to limit public expenditure, it has not been possible to extend my Department's psychological service further in the recent past.
As part of the policy outlined in the White Paper on Education, it is stated that psychological service will be expanded and will be a function of the proposed education boards. Since this must occur on a phased basis, it will take some time before the psychological service from my Department will be in a position to take over responsibility for psychological assessments for educational purposes from the health boards. When further expansion of my Department's psychological service becomes possible, the needs of children in primary schools in other disadvantaged areas, including County Limerick, will be borne in mind.