Vol. 497 No. 3
185 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the inadequate psychological service available for schools in County Cavan; if educational psychologists will be appointed at an early date to provide an appropriate level of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24928/98]
One of my key priorities as Minister is the establishment of a national educational psychological service, which will be available to all schools. There is a psychologist assigned to post-primary schools in County Cavan, but the service has not yet been expanded to include primary schools in the county.
On 15 September last, I launched and endorsed the report of the planning group, which has prepared recommendations for me on how a national educational psychological service may best be introduced. Subject to the approval of Government, implementation of the report will begin in 1999. It is not possible to meet all the needs in all areas at the same time, so a phased expansion of the service is necessary. It is my intention that there will be an educational psychological service available to all schools by the end of the five year implementation phase.
