My attention has been drawn to the delays which occur in certain areas before school children may be psychologically assessed.
In view of the current urgent need in the primary sector, 15 psychologists who are also qualified primary teachers are being seconded to my Department's psychological service for a period of three years. This initiative will greatly increase the number of primary schools having access to the help of an educational psychologist.
After the deployment of these additional 15 psychologists, there will still, however, be a number of primary schools, including the school mentioned, where there will be no schools' psychological service in the short term.
However, a planning group, which includes representatives of all the partners in education, has been established by me with the task of preparing detailed recommendations for the development of a national educational psychological service. The work of the planning group is now well advanced and it is expected that it will report to me before the end of the current school year. It is examining the current availability of psychological services to children and young people, and will be making recommendations as to the developments which will be necessary in order to ensure effective provision in all schools.
