Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 9 September 2024
552. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the number of psychologists employed by NEPS in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and to date in 2024; the number of children to access a NEPS psychologist in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [34451/24]
View answerMy Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary and special schools.
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 via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).
• 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.
NEPS psychologists provide a casework service for approximately 9000 children per annum.
The number of educational psychologists currently employed in NEPS stands at 228 whole time equivalents across six regions. This is the highest number employed in NEPS since it was established. Since the start of the 2023/24 school year, the NEPS service has expanded to all special schools, which is hugely important given the increased support needed for children in these settings.
The number of whole time equivalent psychologists employed in previous years are below:
2020 - 201
2021 - 221
2022 - 225
2023 - 225
In relation to the recruitment of educational psychologists, the Department has been exploring opportunities to increase the numbers of suitably qualified staff. This will strengthen the response to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country. Since January 2023, NEPS has supported bursaries for Trainee Educational Psychologists who are enrolled in the University College Dublin Professional Doctorate in Educational Psychology and Mary Immaculate College Limerick’s Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology. Those in receipt of a bursary commit to joining NEPS upon graduation. There are over 60 Trainee Educational Psychologists in receipt of a bursary who are expected to join NEPS upon graduation, with an additional 14 to be bursaried from September 2024, bringing the total to 74.
Additionally, the Public Appointments Service commenced a recruitment campaign for Educational Psychologists at the end of 2023 and successful candidates from that panel are currently taking up positions in NEPS.
