Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 4

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

John Browne

Question:

155 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Education and Science the diagnostic facilities that are available to identify attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults; the treatment that is available for children and adults; where this treatment is available; and the plans he has to expand this service. [22824/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

In September 1999, my Department established the national educational psychological service agency – NEPS – following a Government decision that an educational psychological service should be provided to all schools and to certain other recognised institutions. The general aim of NEPS is to assist in facilitating all students to develop to their potential and to maximise the benefits of their educational and other experiences, having particular regard to those having special educational needs. NEPS is organised in collaboration with the clinical services provided and funded by the health boards.

The NEPS agency is currently embarking upon a development phase which will last for five years. At the end of that time, all schools will have access to the service offered by the agency. The current situation is that all post-primary schools and approximately 725 national schools are served by NEPS. This number will be sub stantially increased by the end of the year 2000 as additional psychologists join the agency.

In those schools served by NEPS, the educational psychologists take referrals of children suspected to have attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They work in collaboration with teachers and parents and use agreed diagnostic criteria in order to identify children with these syndromes. In most cases, they refer these children on to clinical services for further advice, to enable a full diagnosis to be made and support to be provided by a multi-disciplinary team. The educational psychologists continue to provide advice to the teachers of children with ADD or ADHD on educational programmes and behavioural management. As stated above, this service will be available to all schools as soon as possible.