Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
442 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the national educational psychological service was withdrawn from a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when the full service will be resumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12070/04]
View answerThe national educational psychological service, NEPS, assigns each psychologist to a number of schools, taking into account the time available for the psychologist to visit schools. In the case of the school mentioned by the Deputy, the assigned NEPS psychologist was promoted some time ago. It was therefore necessary to withdraw his services from a number of schools, including this particular school, in order to allow time for him to fulfil his managerial responsibilities. Unfortunately, no additional psychologists have been recruited to County Wexford since this withdrawal of service, so it has not yet been possible for NEPS to arrange for a replacement.
NEPS regrets this situation, and will resume a full psychological service to the school as soon as additional personnel are available. During the interim period, the school may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments.
