Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
260. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to points of concerns raised by a trainee psychologist (details supplied) in respect of the proposed changes in funding for trainee educational psychologists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19082/23]
View answerThe 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 well-being, and the academic, social and emotional development of all learners.
The NEPS service provides access for 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.
A working group in the Department has been examining the matter of how 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.
To address supply issues in the medium to long term a workforce plan for educational psychologists is being developed within the Department of Education and work has begun with other Government Departments to advance this. Officials in my Department liaise regularly with the Department of Health, and with Mary Immaculate College and University College Dublin, and, as this work progresses, will continue to do so and to consult with other stakeholders as appropriate.
As an immediate short-term measure the Department introduced a bursary to support Trainee Educational Psychologists currently in their third year (or third year equivalent) of professional training in University College Dublin (UCD) and Mary Immaculate College (MIC), who expect to graduate in 2023.
The working group referred to above has also been asked to make some interim recommendations in Q2 of this year regarding any other short-term measures required in advance of their final report. Funding supports for students of the educational psychological doctorate programme are being considered as part of this process. Officials in my Department are liaising with Mary Immaculate College and University College Dublin in that regard.
