Emmet Stagg
Question:158 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will sanction the appointment of a psychologist to cover the remainder of the primary schools in north County Kildare. [25707/99]
Written Answers. - Psychological Service.
The management of the national educational psychological service agency is currently drawing up a development plan for the phased expansion of its service. The particular needs of all counties, including County Kildare, are being considered in the formulation of this plan. It is envisaged that all schools will have access to the psychological service by the end of a five-year developmental period beginning in 1999. I am happy to inform you that as part of the first phase of the expansion, the Civil Service Commission has completed interviews for an additional 25 psychologists and has also completed the short-listing for a further 25 psychologists. The successful applicants from the first competition will begin to take up their positions in the National Educational Psychological Service Agency early in the new year.