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National Educational Psychological Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 July 2021

Wednesday, 14 July 2021

Questions (199)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

199. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of NEPS referrals made in the 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years for an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38234/21]

View answer

Written answers

I can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).

NEPS does not maintain waiting lists but in common with many other psychological services and best international practice, 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 oriented 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.

In relation to the Deputy’s request for information regarding the number of requests for NEPS involvement made by schools in the East Meath area in the 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years, this information is set out in the table attached. In addition to the casework service outlined in the attached, NEPS was also available to these schools for Critical Incident Support, the provision of a Regional Support and Development service and a response to queries, on request.

EAST MEATH NEPS CASEWORK 2018-2021

School Year

Requests for NEPS involvement from schools in East Meath

18/19

62

19/20

47

20/21

45

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