Vol. 524 No. 2
434 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the situation at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 where the parents' association is concerned about the psychological service. [22240/00]
I am aware that the level of service provided by the national educational psychological service – NEPS – of my Department to the school named by the Deputy has been reduced over the past school year. This was due to an unforeseen career break by the psychologist assigned to the school. It was not possible to provide a substitute psychologist immediately as recruitment for NEPS has taken much longer than anticipated.
An additional 20 psychologists have been appointed since the beginning of September. As soon as they have completed their induction training, the first priority will be to fill vacancies, including the vacancy in the school mentioned. The new psychologists should be deployed in schools during the second half of the current school term.
I understand that the senior psychologist for the area has already contacted the school principal and a representative of the parents' association and has fully informed them about the situation.
