Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2022
360. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education her assistance on a matter which has been passed between multiple departments relating to the lack of funding for trainee educational and child psychologists, similar to that for trainee counselling psychologist colleagues. [53144/22]
View answer361. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will consider funding for a cohort of students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53444/22]
View answer363. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the financial supports available from her Department for those completing educational psychology trainee courses who are on placement in the children's disability network team. [52699/22]
View answer420. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to extend the recently announced funding for a cohort of third-year doctoral students of educational psychology to all second and third-year doctoral students of educational psychology; the estimated annual cost of extending the payment to all second and third-year doctoral students of educational psychology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53524/22]
View answer421. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to extend the recently announced funding for a cohort of third-year doctoral students of educational psychology beyond the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53525/22]
View answer422. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the status of the development of the workforce plan for educational psychologists; when she expects the workforce planning group to submit its final report; if the workforce planning group is examining the provision of financial support to all second and third-year doctoral students of educational psychology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53526/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 360, 361, 363, 420, 421 and 422 together.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides a school-based psychological service to all recognised primary and post-primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, and the academic, social and emotional development of all learners.
The NEPS service provides access for all schools to:
- Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident
- A Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment
- A school staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools and
- Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.
This overall approach allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent individual cases and, through supporting school staff, to benefit many more children than could be seen individually.
In 2021 the NEPS casework service extended to over 8,500 students. Additionally, under the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) process, private psychologists provided assessment to schools for over 900 students. Furthermore, the NEPS Support and Development service reaches an estimated 25,000 teachers annually.
A working group in the Department has been examining the matter of how the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) can continue to recruit adequate numbers of suitably qualified staff and continue to respond to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country.
The group has agreed on a number of actions that must be taken to address supply issues in the medium to long term. These include the development of a workforce plan for educational psychologists within the Department of Education and work has begun with other Government Departments to advance this.
A number of options were considered to address some immediate supply issues. Following analysis of these, it was decided that the Department would use some available NEPS funding to sponsor a cohort of third year students of the Educational Psychology Doctoral programme in University College Dublin (UCD) and Mary Immaculate College (MIC) University of Limerick, for the academic year 2022/23 by providing a contribution towards their fees and associated expenses. Details will be made available in the coming weeks.
The workforce planning group referred to above will be asked to make some interim recommendations in Q2 of next year regarding any other short-term measures required in advance of their final report. It is envisaged that funding supports for students on the educational psychological doctorate programme will be considered as part of this process.
