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Psychological Assessments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Questions (265, 270)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

265. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of counselling and or psychological support services at primary and second level here; if any particular or specific inadequacies have been identified; his plans to address any such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43369/12]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if particular issues or deficiencies have been recognised in the extent and quality of counselling and or psychological services at primary and or second level schools here; the proposed action to address any such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43374/12]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 270 together.

The Deputy will be aware that primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have a NEPS psychologist assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved and paid for by NEPS. In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS encourages a staged assessment process, whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention, in consultation with their assigned NEPS psychologist. Only if there is a failure to make reasonable progress in spite of the school's best efforts, will a student be referred for individual psychological assessment/intervention. Such intervention address both learning needs and/or needs in relation to the area of social and emotional competence. This system allows the psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more students indirectly than could be seen individually. It also ensures that students are not referred unnecessarily for psychological intervention.

In addition NEPS has provided guidance to all schools and school communities in relation to structures and processes to be put in place in the event of critical incidents. Upon request by school authorities NEPS psychologists provide direct on-site assistance to schools in coping with the aftermath of such traumatic events.

NEPS currently directly employs some 168 psychologists sited in 22 local and regional offices countrywide and assigned to schools in their respective catchment areas. I can inform the Deputy that my Department is engaging with 10 additional candidates with a view to their recruitment to NEPS in the current academic year bringing the total staffing complement to its highest level ever. I am satisfied that the NEPS service is responding adequately to the needs of schools.

I acknowledge that the reduction in resources to second level schools is challenging for schools. The budget measure that requires schools to manage the provision of guidance and counselling from within their standard staffing allocation, the alternative to which was to make an adjustment to the standard staffing schedule, must be seen in the context of our very difficult budgetary constraints. As part of the budgetary measure my Department helped shelter the impact for DEIS post-primary schools by improving their standard staffing allocations. It is established policy that guidance is a whole school activity and under existing arrangements each school develops a school guidance plan as a means of supporting the needs of its students. I am confident schools will act in the best interest of students.

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