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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 3

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

405 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of educational psychologists available to schools in the Dublin area and throughout the country; if these positions are part-time or full-time; and the waiting time for a primary school pupil to see a psychol ogist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25142/00]

I have recently more than doubled the number of psychologists in my Department's service.

At present, the National Educational Psychological Service Agency, NEPS, deploys 70 psychologists in schools around the country. Of these, 25 are based in the region corresponding to that covered by the Eastern Regional Health Authority. Twelve of the 25 psychologists also provide a service to schools outside the region and two are job-sharing. The two vocational education committees for the city and county of Dublin also employ six psychologists who are available to schools in that sector.

Additional psychologists have recently been appointed to NEPS and it is envisaged that, by the end of the current school year, 32 NEPS psychologists will be assigned to the Eastern Regional Health Authority area.

Psychologists assist principals and teachers to develop procedures for screening, identifying and prioritising those students who are most in need of help. Using this procedure, urgent cases are seen in a comparatively short time. In other, less urgent cases, psychologists advise parents and teachers on appropriate remedial strategies, in the light of schools' assessment results. In such cases some students, parents and teachers can benefit from the psychologist's advice without the need for an individual psychological assessment.

Austin Currie

Question:

406 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Education and Science when a psychological service will be provided to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25143/00]

Due to an unforeseen career break the level of service provided by the National Educational Psychological Service to the school named by the Deputy was not maintained in recent times. However, I am happy to inform the Deputy that a replacement psychologist has now been assigned to the school and following discussions with the principal, will be in a position to provide a service to the school.

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