Vol. 467 No. 1
70 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to make provision for the appointment of an education psychologist in respect of blind and visually impaired children as requested by the organisation FEACH; the further plans, if any, she has to meet with this organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11470/96]
The psychological service of my Department is available on a limited basis to second level schools and has also been extended in 1995 to primary schools serving a certain number of disadvantaged areas. While the psychologists employed by my Department provide a psychological assessment service for pupils having a broad range of learning and other disabilities, they have not been recruited for the provision of specialist services in respect of particular disabilities. For the most part psychologists doing such work, in relation to sensory disabilities especially, have been provided by the National Rehabilitation Board, which comes under the auspices of the Department of Health. There are no plans to extend the Department of Education's psychological service in 1996. Any such extension must be within the limits of my Department's administrative budget.
When further expansion of the Department of Education's psychological service becomes possible the needs of pupils having various disabilities will be considered. Senior officials of my Department met with representatives of FEACH in January 1996. In the light of budgetary restrictions I do not feel that a meeting at this stage would advance the organisation's cause.
