Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

John Perry

Question:

1185 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some primary teachers in the south Sligo area believe that an educational psychologist would serve the needs of pupils more fully than the current system of being assessed by a psychologist without an educational background with teachers benefiting from the direction and advice that an educational psychologist would provide; the plans he has to address the anomaly in the current situation where parents with the financial means can privately access the skills and opinion of an educational psychologist but those without the financial means are at a disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1602/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I am aware that all schools will derive benefit from the introduction of a psychological service delivered by psychologists with a background in working with school children. This is the reason for the Government's decision to establish the National Educational Psychological Service – NEPS. The current situation in Sligo is that two educational psychologists have been providing a service to all post-primary schools and a number of primary schools. An additional appointment has now been made to the region, allowing for further expansion in the primary sector in the county. The NEPS development plan envisages that there will be four psychologists serving the Sligo/Leitrim area by the end of the year 2003.

I am aware of the difficulties that have been experienced by some schools in gaining access to psychological assessments. This is why I provided an extra 28 psychologists since last summer. This situation will continue for a period of time, pending the appointment of the full quota of psychologists for NEPS. In the interests of equity of access, my Department, in collaboration with the management of NEPS, is currently considering possible short-term strategies to alleviate the situation.