Vol. 491 No. 4
121 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to increase the number of psychologists in north Wicklow in view of the serious delays and limited services provided there by the school psychological service; if he will outline the psychological service provided in County Wicklow; the way in which it compares with County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12374/98]
The position is that all post-primary schools in counties Wicklow and Wexford are assigned to two of the psychologists employed by my Department. The psychologists carry out assessments as the resources of time and personnel permit.
In view of the delays which occur in certain areas before primary school children may be psychologically assessed, 15 psychologists who are also qualified primary teachers are being seconded to my Department's psychological service for a period of three years. North Wicklow is one of the areas which has already benefited from this initiative. The selected primary schools in the area will be contacted by one of the psychologists during the coming term.
After the deployment of these additional 15 psychologists, there still remain, however, certain counties where there is no schools' psychological service for primary schools. County Wexford is one of these counties.
It is my intention to establish a national educational psychological service which will be available to all primary and secondary schools as well as to pre-school children. Plans for this service were included in the programme for Government.
The work of the planning group for this service 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.
