Vol. 530 No. 3
259 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will make the necessary arrangements for the appointment of a psychologist in the County Kerry area, in view of the high number of primary school children awaiting psychological assessment. [3521/01]
My Department has provided a psychological service to post primary schools in County Kerry for many years now. A service to primary schools in the greater Tralee area was initiated in 1998, but unfortunately had to be discontinued due to the resignation of the psychologist concerned. It has proved difficult to find a replacement.
However, as an interim measure, one of the newly appointed psychologists who is based in Cork has started to work part-time in Tralee and will deal with urgent cases from primary schools in the area. Posts are still being filled from the most recent competition for the recruitment of 50 extra psychologists to the National Educational Psychological Service Agency, NEPS, and one of the new appointees will be assigned to County Kerry.
Under the Government's plan to increase the service a further competition for recruitment to NEPS will be organised by the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners later this year. It is intended that there will be up to seven NEPS psychologists working in County Kerry by the end of the year 2003.
