Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 1997

Vol. 475 No. 7

Written Answers. - Psychology Service.

Rory O'Hanlon

Question:

131 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no educational psychologist available to assess children attending national schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5628/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

As part of the policy outlined in the Government's White Paper on education, Charting Our Education Future, it is stated that the education boards will be required to include proposals for the schools psychological service in their plans.

A psychology service to primary schools was initiated by my Department when four psychologists were recruited to work in a pilot project in west Tallaght-Clondalkin and south Tipperary during 1990.

This psychology service for primary schools was expanded during 1995 with the further 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. 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.