Vol. 566 No. 1
320 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to a NEPS assessment in view of the fact that Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 16 April 2003 did not answer this query; and when it will be carried out. [11729/03]
As I indicated in my reply of 16 April, the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA, currently operated by NEPS, allows schools that do not yet have access to the NEPS service to commission psychological assessments from private practitioners in urgent cases. Each school is allowed to commission a specified number of assessments, the number being related to the size of the school population. The school principal, in consultation with the teaching staff, determines which children should have priority for psychological assessment.
The school attended by the pupil named by the Deputy is one of the schools that have access to SCPA. I understand from NEPS that this school is entitled to four assessments under the SCPA in the current school year. According to NEPS records, the school has arranged for one assessment to date. Arrangements for the assessment, including the timing of it, are a matter for discussion between the child's parents, the school principal, and the psychologist from the SCPA panel.
