Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Jun 1998

Vol. 491 No. 6

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

Michael Bell

Question:

303 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact there is no educational psychologist at primary school level in Drogheda, County Louth and only one post at post primary level; his views on whether this is adequate for a town of this size; the plans his Department has to rectify this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12916/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The current position is that the Department of Education and Science has one psychologist working in post-primary schools in County Louth.

However, it is my intention to extend the educational psychological service to be available to all schools, primary and post-primary, throughout the country. In order to achieve this objective, I have established a planning group to prepare proposals for the development of a National Educational Psychological Service. The work of this planning group is now well advanced and I expect its report to be available to me in the very near future.

As an interim measure, my Department, in co-operation with Mary Immaculate College of Education in Limerick, has made arrangements for the employment on three-year contracts of 15 educational psychologists in order to extend the service at primary school level. The recruitment process has now been completed, and the 15 psychologists are beginning to take up their posts. One of these psychologists is to be assigned to primary schools in Drogheda and South County Louth, beginning in September 1998.