Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 March 2015
816. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the National Educational Psychological Service will carry out two assessments in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12004/15]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), full details of which are on the Department's website. Under this scheme schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.
In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem solving and solution focused consultative approach to maximize positive outcomes for these pupils. NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they need to at this stage in the process. Only in the event of a failure to make reasonable progress, in spite of the school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, will the psychologist become involved with an individual child for intensive intervention or assessment.
This system allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually. It also ensures that children are not referred unnecessarily for psychological intervention.
I have made enquiries in the matter raised by the Deputy and am informed that, while the assigned NEPS Psychologist is currently not available to the school due to maternity leave, a provision has been made under the above described SCPA scheme to answer the immediate assessment needs of the school in question. I would advise that if the school have any questions on the matter that the Principal should contact the NEPS Regional Office (Tel: 0761- 108635) for clarification.
