Vol. 446 No. 1
127 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education if she will make a statement on psychological services to primary and post-primary schools, including the number of educational psychologists employed by her Department and the county or area for which they are responsible. [1674/94]
Psychological services to schools are at present provided by the psychological service, Department of Education (29 psychologists employed), the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee (four psychologists, including two vacancies) and County Dublin Vocational Education Committee, two psychologists.
In the case of the psychological services provided by the two vocational education committees, these are to schools under the management of the committees concerned.
Three of the 29 psychologists employed by my Department are deployed in a supervisory capacity; 22 provide a service to post-primary schools in the country generally and four provide a service to primary schools in South Tipperary and the West Tallaght-Clondalkin area of County Dublin.
The psychologists employed by my Department are located as follows: Dublin, 16; Cork, 4; Galway, 3; Clonmel, 2; Limerick, 1; Sligo, 1; Drogheda, 1; Wexford, 1.
Ten additional psychologists are currently being recruited to commence the extension of services to primary schools. It is planned to employ a further ten psychologists next year for this purpose.
