At present, there are a number of counties, including counties Waterford and Wexford, where it has not yet been possible for my Department to provide a psychological service for primary schools. Clinical psychological services are provided by the regional health board.
A member of my Department's psychological service will liaise with the clinical services to establish the nature of the needs of the person mentioned and to make recommendations on educational provision.
A planning group which includes representatives of all the partners in education has been set up with the task of preparing detailed recommendations for the Government on the development of a national educational psychological service. It has been examining the level of need among school children. There is an absence of large-scale epidemiological studies in this country, but the indications are that, in general, between 11 and 15 per cent of children in schools may require help from educational psychologists at some time or another. This figure would vary slightly from area to area.
The planning group will be making recommendations as to the developments which will be necessary in order to meet these needs in all schools. Its work is now well advanced and it is expected that it will report to me before the end of the current school year.
