P. J. Sheehan
Ceist:81 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give details of the recruitment plans, if any, he has for psychologists in order to improve the psychological services in schools. [16688/97]
Written Answers. - Psychological Service.
Proposals for the establishment of a national education psychological service were included in the programme for Government. A planning group has been set up and has begun work. It is expected that the planning group will report to me early in 1998.
Meanwhile, as an interim measure, the Department of Education and Science is now organising, in co-operation with Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick, a development project for the extension of the psychological service to primary schools. This project will be staffed by 15 psychologists who will be employed on a contract basis by Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and will work as members of teams organised on a regional basis by the schools psychological service of my Department. I believe that the success of our education system is crucial to the economic development of our country both in terms of our ability to attract inward investment and in the development of our indigenous enterprises. One of my priorities is to ensure that our third level education system responds to the specific needs of the economy.
Since taking office I have secured very substantial resources for the third level sector to enable it to continue to support our economic development. I will continue to keep the level of provision at third level under review.