Psychological Service.

Tuesday, 7 December 2004

Questions (333)

Olwyn Enright

Question:

317 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress that has been made on the recommendation in the report of the task force on autism of October 2001, that there be a significant increase in projected NEPS staffing levels to enable the educational psychologists to have a meaningful role in working with pupils with ASDs; if such a recommendation has been carried out; if so, the extent to which; if not completed, when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32154/04]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

In October 2001, there were 84 educational psychologists serving with the national educational psychological service, NEPS. At present, there are 130 psychologists in NEPS. Psychological services to children with ASDs should, of course, be provided by both clinical and educational psychological services. Recruitment of permanent staff to the Department, including educational psychologists, has, to date, been undertaken by the Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners. The last panel of 69 educational psychologists has recently been exhausted, and my Department has initiated the process to run a new recruitment competition.

Pending the expansion of NEPS to cover all schools, those that are not yet served may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, or SCPA. The SCPA is an interim measure and was specifically introduced to minimise delays for those children who need to be assessed. Under the scheme, individual psychological assessments may only be administered by psychologists whose names appear on a panel compiled by NEPS.

Questions Nos. 318 and 319 answered with Question No. 309.

Question No. 320 answered with QuestionNo. 304.

Question No. 321 answered with QuestionNo. 309.

Question No. 322 answered with QuestionNo. 304.

Question No. 323 answered with QuestionNo. 309.