Vol. 558 No. 6
107 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science when educational psychologists will be appointed to primary schools in Maynooth, Celbridge, Straffan, Ardclough, Rathmore, Sallins, Kilcock, Rathcoffey, Kill and Donadea, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25320/02]
The situation in regard to the appointment of educational psychologists to primary schools in Maynooth, Celbridge, Straffan, Ardclough, Rathmore, Sallins, Kilcock, Rathcoffey, Kill and Donadea, County Kildare, remains substantially the same as that outlined in written replies on 17 April and 9 October last.
While my Department has recently made a number of new appointments of psychologists to the national educational psychological service, NEPS, including some who will be based in the eastern region, south-western area, it is unfortunately not possible at present to extend the service to the schools mentioned by the Deputy. The newly appointed psychologists have replaced colleagues who have been promoted or have moved to another region as well as one who, sadly, died earlier this year and one who is on long-term sick leave. However, some schools in County Kildare, which had their service withdrawn last year, due to the staffing difficulties already referred to, have had the service recently re-instated.
It is not possible to be precise as to when particular areas in the county will receive a service until it is clear which psychologists on the panel for NEPS are accepting offers of posts and which are deferring taking up employment until the next school year. A number of schools, some of which were listed by the Deputy, were offered a limited pre-service input last year and it was hoped to extend a full service to them this year. Unfortunately, this has been delayed for the reasons stated earlier. I still hope it will be possible to extend the NEPS service to these schools during the current year but the exact timing will depend upon when the psychologists on the panel actually take up their posts and complete their induction training. In the meantime, the schools referred to in the question may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, details of which may be found on my Department's website.
