Vol. 489 No. 5
144 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 on 25 March 1998, the villages, towns and cities where the 15 psychologists recently recruited to the primary schools psychological services will be located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8502/98]
The 15 psychologists appointed recently to improve psychological services to primary schools will take up duty over the next few months. While this current expansion of my Department's psychological service will almost double the number of primary schools having access to the help of an educational psychologist, it will not be possible, on this occasion, to serve all primary schools.
The list of specific schools to which the new psychologists will be assigned is currently in preparation. In deciding this allocation, a range of factors is being taken into consideration by officials of my Department. Primary inspectors, who are in contact with primary schools on a regular basis and who are aware of the needs of schools in different areas, are also being consulted.
I intend to announce the names of the selected schools shortly.
