Jack Wall
Question:46 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to identify all the highly disruptive pupils within the primary education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7546/98]
Written Answers. - Disruptive Pupils.
The school authority is responsible for ensuring that the issue of discipline is fairly and efficiently administered in the school, and my Department has issued guidelines to assist boards of management in discharging their obligations in this area. These guidelines are sufficiently flexible to allow each school authority to adapt them to suit the particular needs of the school.
The report on discipline which was commissioned by my Department and completed by Dr. Maeve Martin deals comprehensively with the issue of discipline in schools and sets out models of best practice in this area. A copy of the report has been made available to all schools and will be a valuable resource for school authorities.
An Action Programme for the Millenium contains a commitment to set up a national psychological service. I have established a planning group to prepare proposals for the development of this service and I expect to receive the group's report shortly.
In the meantime, I have arranged for the immediate extension of the psychological service to primary schools through the recruitment of an additional 15 psychologists who will be assigned to various locations throughout the country. The availability of a nationwide psychological service will greatly assist in identifying and making appropriate provision for disruptive pupils.