Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
938. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the reason National Education Psychological Service psychologists cannot assess students in school environments when schools are reopened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15660/21]
View answer941. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education if psychological assessments are being undertaken for primary students since schools reopened; and if so, the number by county and week since 1 March 2021. [15663/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 938 and 941 together.
Covid-19 has had a major impact on our daily lives and we have all had to adjust and adapt in the face of significant challenges in the course of 2020. From the outset of this pandemic the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has continued to deliver a psychological service to schools within the context of public health advice. In addition, NEPS has remained proactive in the development of advice for schools, parents and pupils to support the wellbeing of students and the transition back into school. As part of a package of measures to support the reopening of our schools the provision of an additional seventeen psychologist posts to NEPS was announced bringing overall sanctioned numbers to 221 whole time equivalent psychologist posts.
Guidelines were issued to psychologists and to schools to clarify procedures for in-school work during the course of this academic year to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all members of the school communities and NEPS staff.
Now that our schools have reopened once again, NEPS psychologists have resumed an increased focus on both consultation and casework in schools with particular attention to the needs of individual students. Psychologists have been asked to provide a blended approach to the provision of casework to schools, working both remotely, if appropriate, using secure on-line platforms, and in-school, depending on school protocols/plans and the nature of need of the child/young person. This approach recognises that some aspects of casework will require the psychologist to work in the school, while other aspects of the work may be done remotely in order to minimise risk and maximise safety.
Information on the number of assessments by county and week since 1 March 2021 is not currently available in the format requested, i.e. by county. A new IT system is currently being rolled out in NEPS which will more easily facilitate access to data such as this in the future. I can confirm to the Deputy that since March 1st this year NEPS psychologists have been actively involved with 1497 individual cases across the entire country.
