Vol. 539 No. 2
194 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that currently only two psychologists serve the 90 schools in the south Tipperary area; the plan he has to appoint additional child psychologists to the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19339/01]
South Tipperary was selected by my Department in 1990 as part of the pilot project introducing the psychological service to primary schools. These schools were among the first in the country to have such a service. Currently one NEPS psychologist serves all post-primary schools in the region and two others serve all 90 primary schools.
The service will be gradually extended on a national basis over the next few years in accordance with the NEPS development plan. The development plan envisages the appointment of a total of 4.5 psychologists to this area.
A new competition for NEPS psychologists is likely to take place in the near future and it is intended to prioritise south Tipperary in the advertisement for the competition.
I recently announced the allocation of funding to enable NEPS to develop a scheme for commissioning psychological assessments pending the full expansion of its service to schools. Details of this scheme will issue shortly to all primary schools.
