Vol. 558 No. 6
103 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the action he intends to take to ensure that children with special needs receive speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and the services of educational psychologists as appropriate, in view of the difficulties special schools are having in hiring the services of these specialists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25249/02]
The national educational psychological service, NEPS, was established in order to provide a service to all schools, paying particular attention to children with special educational needs. The expansion of NEPS is still taking place. Although good progress has been made, its service is not yet available to all schools. Many special schools were established by, and receive support services from, voluntary bodies under the aegis of the health boards. NEPS is, therefore, giving priority, as it expands, to special schools that do not have access to psychological services provided by other bodies.
For some special schools, support from both clinical and educational psychological services may be appropriate. NEPS has a remit to collaborate with psychological services in the health area to ensure that, ultimately, all children in special schools will have access to an appropriate type and level of psychological service.
The provision of speech and language therapy and occupational therapy is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children.
104 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the action he intends to take to ensure that children with special needs in St. Peter's special school, Rathgar, Dublin 6, receive speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and the services of educational psychologists as appropriate, in view of the difficulties special schools are having in hiring the services of these specialists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25250/02]
I understand that St. Peter's special school has had a psychological service provided in the past by a voluntary body under the aegis of the Eastern Health Board. The school has recently approached the national educational psychological Service, NEPS, to request an educational psychological service.
