Vol. 475 No. 1
217 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the need to appoint educational psychologists in the primary school sector in counties Laois and Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4413/97]
In general, the responsibility 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.
The psychological service for primary schools from my Department is in a very limited number of areas at present, with priority given to schools serving disadvantaged areas. The psychological service to primary schools in those areas was introduced during 1995 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 counties Laois and Offaly. 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 policy outlined in the White Paper on Education it is stated that the 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 various areas, including counties Laois and Offaly will be borne in mind.
