Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:368 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science the current progress in providing a school psychological service at primary school level. [20215/97]
Written Answers. - Psychological Service.
Proposals for the establishment of a national education psychological service were included in the programme for Government. I intend that this service will extend to all schools as well as to pre-school children and to students who drop out of school at late primary or early second level education.
A planning group has been set up and has begun its work. It is to submit a report to me early in 1998.
Meanwhile, as an interim measure, my Department is now organising, in co-operation with Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick, a development programme for the expansion of the psychological service to primary schools. Applications have been invited, by way of open competition, for 15 educational psychologists on a three year contract, and the selection process has begun. The successful applicants will work in teams or organised on a regional basis by my Department's psychological service.
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:369 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science the current waiting time for referral for the provision of psychological services to primary school children. [20216/97]
The lead responsibility for the provision of psychological services to children in national schools is held by the relevant health board directors of community care.
The psychological service provided by my Department is currently available to a limited number of national schools, with priority given to schools serving disadvantaged areas in the cities of Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Members of my Department's psychological service who are deployed in primary schools carry out assessments as the resources of time and personnel allow. Each school is contacted regularly and a time allocation for the current school term is agreed. Psychologists try to ensure that each school receives some service each term but, depending on current needs, some schools will have more time allocated than others in any particular year. In consultation with the psychologist, each school principal prioritises those pupils who are to be seen individually. Referrals deemed to be urgent are dealt with as soon as possible.
With regard to the future provision of psychological services for children, I announced in July 1997 that I intend to develop a national psychological service which will be available to all primary and secondary schools as well as to pre-school children. The development stage in this process is now beginning. I have set up a planning group, representatives of the partners in education, which will report to me early in 1998.
The report of the planning group, which will inform my long-term plans for the provision of psychological services to schools, will include consideration of issues such as liaison with the health authorities in relation to procedures for referral and reporting and waiting times for appointments.