Vol. 549 No. 3
421 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Education and Science when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be assessed regarding special needs and additional hours in relation to a resource teacher; if the person will be assessed privately, if the assessment will be paid for by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6554/02]
The school attended by the person in question does not yet have access to the full service provided by the national educational psychological service agency. The school may therefore avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments. I announced funding for this initiative in June 2001. It allows schools that do not yet have access to the NEPS service to commission psychological assessments from private practitioners. Once the psychological report has been provided for the school, the NEPS will pay the psychologist directly. Full details of the scheme have been issued to all schools and are also available from my Department's website.
422 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation regarding funding for Ábalta in Knocknacarra, Galway city. [6556/02]
The issue raised by the Deputy is the subject of detailed discussions between officials of my Department, the national educational psychological service and representatives of the parents of the children in question. I am hopeful that these discussions will lead to a positive outcome in order that appropriate support services can be put in place for the children in question as speedily as possible.
