Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 3

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

Joe Sherlock

Question:

65 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps being taken to address the chronic shortage of school psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30932/03]

In 1997 my Department set up a planning group to advise it on the educational psychology services in schools and to make recommendations for the future. The group recommended that a national educational psychology service should be established and that 200 psychologists would be needed in the educational system. The Government accepted the recommendation and in 1999 decided to set up NEPS and to appoint additional psychologists on a phased basis over a five year period until the target was reached. Most of the 200 psychologists would be in NEPS with approximately 16 to 20 psychologists employed elsewhere in the educational system.

Since the establishment of NEPS in September 1999, the number of psychologists assigned to it has tripled, rising to 127 psychologists at present. I have approved the appointment of an additional five psychologists from the Civil Service Commission panel for NEPS. I intend to continue to recruit additional psychologists, as resources permit and bearing in mind the general staffing constraints that exist at present.

Question No. 66 answered with Question No. 49.

Top
Share