Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:333 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education if she intends to continue and/or extend the two pilot projects in West Dublin and County Tipperary at present providing a school psychological service in these areas.
Written Answers. - School Psychological Services.
Jim Higgins
Ceist:357 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education if provision has been made in the estimates for the expansion of the school psychological service at primary level.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 357 together.
The three-year project for the establishment of a psychological service for primary schools, which is operating in West Dublin and South Tipperary is now in its third year. The question of the continuous of the service in the existing areas and of a timeframe for the phased extension of the service to other areas is at present under consideration in my Department.
The Programme for a Partnership Government provides for the expansion of the psychological service to cover the whole primary sector to ensure that every child with learning or behavioural difficulties has access to help at the earliest stage.