Brian O'Shea
Ceist:758 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science when his Department will recruit further educational psychologists for the primary sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21909/98]
Written Answers. - Psychological Service.
The psychological service to primary schools is still in the development stage, although there has been considerable expansion over the past 12 months. It is my intention that all schools should have ready access to a psychological service through the establishment of 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.
In 1997, I set up a planning group to survey the current availability of psychological services to students in school and to make recommendations to me on the developments that would be necessary to ensure effective provision in all areas. Its report has now been published. I launched it publicly on 15 September and have set up an implementation group in my Department to plan the phased expansion of the psychological service to all schools.