Vol. 478 No. 3
72 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Education the timescale she envisages for the introduction of psychological services for primary schools in County Clare; if her attention has been drawn to the limits of the service currently in operation under the community care programme; and whether any service of assessment for educational purposes will be put in place in the short-term. [11029/97]
The policy outlined in the Government White Paper on Education, Charting our Education Future, envisages the expansion of the schools psychological service to all schools, both primary and post-primary. Provision of this service will be a function of the proposed education boards. This service will be developed on a phased basis.
At present, it is the responsibility of the appropriate health board director of community care to arrange for psychological assessments for children in national schools where such are deemed necessary. It has been drawn to my attention that, in recent years some of the health boards and voluntary bodies have ceased to provide assessments for what they consider to be purely educational purposes.
