Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 5

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

241 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to provide access to the national educational psychological service to those children in need of access to the service where their schools have already reached their allocated complement but where those children need access to the service. [19243/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the roll-out of the National Educational Psychological Service Agency, NEPS, to all schools is proceeding as scheduled in the Government decision to establish the agency.

At the beginning of the current school year, NEPS provided a service to the vast majority of post-primary schools and approximately two-thirds of primary schools. Since 1 September 30 additional psychologists have joined NEPS and it is envisaged that approximately 15 more will join at the mid-term break. As these psychologists complete their induction training, they will be assigned to schools, thus increasing the number of schools that have access to the service.

Pending the full roll-out of NEPS to all schools, my Department has allocated funding for a second year to the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments. This allows schools that do not yet have access to the NEPS service to have children psychologically assessed. Revised guidelines for schools on how to avail of the scheme are in preparation and will be available very shortly.

A limit has been placed initially on the number of assessments that may be commissioned by each school in order to ensure that the available funding is shared equitably. However, NEPS will keep the situation under review during the course of the school year, in case there are children who need urgent access to psychological assessments and whose needs are not being met under the current arrangements.