Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2005
174 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 198 of 10 March 2005, if she will answer the first and last parts of the question, that is, the number of educational psychologists required to provide a full service to first and second level students in Waterford and when the NEPS in the Waterford constituency will be up to full strength; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9796/05]
View answerIn April 2000, the management committee of the national educational psychological service, NEPS, prepared a development plan, which recommended that each newly appointed cohort of psychologists should be divided among the regions on a pro rata basis, related to the projected student numbers in each region.
On this basis, it was envisaged that ultimately five psychologists would be needed in County Waterford in order to provide a service to all primary and post-primary schools. The current situation is that there are three psychologists based in the Waterford office and their work is overseen by the regional director for the south eastern region — also a psychologist.
I am aware that, at present, County Waterford does not have its full complement of psychologists in place. The most recent panel of psychologists established by the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners has now been exhausted and arrangements for the recently established Public Appointments Service to set up a new panel are at a preliminary stage. Any increase in the number of psychologists in NEPS will depend on the availability of resources and must also take account of Government policy on public sector numbers. Therefore, I cannot at present give a firm date for when the NEPS service in County Waterford will be up to full strength.
When the next recruitment competition for NEPS psychologists takes place, regional panels, rather than one national panel, will be established. This will allow my Department to give priority in filling vacancies to areas with the greatest need.
Pending the expansion of NEPS to cover all schools, those that are not yet served may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA. The SCPA is an interim measure and was specifically introduced to minimise delays for those children who need to be assessed.
