Olivia Mitchell
Question:205 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if arrangements will be made to allocate additional psychologists to St. Joseph's special school, Balrothery, Tallaght, Dublin 24. [14300/02]
Written Answers. - Psychological Service.
The national educational psychological service agency, NEPS, regards the provision of psychological support for children with special educational needs as a high priority. The agency, therefore, established a task force on special education, which has now made recommendations to NEPS management. In regard to special schools, it recommends that a preliminary survey of needs should be conducted in collaboration with the schools, as it is agreed that special schools may have needs additional to those of mainstream schools.
NEPS allocated time to St. Joseph's special school for the first time in the school year 2001-02. Two psychologists shared the assignment as part of their overall allocation of schools. Their role included the survey of needs with the school. When available, the outcomes of this process will assist in identifying the most appropriate level and form of support to be offered to the school in the future.
In addition, this school, together with another special school, has held a series of meetings in recent months with representatives of support services from both the health and education sectors. The aim of these meetings has been to identify the level and type of resources that the schools regard as necessary. It is expected that a submission will be made when this process is completed and that this, too, will assist in allocation of appropriate resourcing.
As with other schools in the region, enhanced allocation of psychologists' time will be made available as recruitment to NEPS continues. It is anticipated that a number of additional psychologists will be assigned to the region before the end of the current year.