Vol. 502 No. 6
306 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received representations from persons (details supplied) in County Dublin concerning the long waiting list for psychological assessment and speech therapy services for their child who is a young primary school pupil; the plans, if any, he has to improve these services; his views on whether the waiting time is unreasonable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8726/99]
I received a representation from the family concerned on 11 March. A member of my Department's psychological service has now discussed the child's needs with his mother.
When the mother made inquiries of the clinical services of the health board, she was informed that there would be a long waiting time before appointments for speech therapy or psychological assessments could be offered. However, I understand that the health board has now arranged a speech therapy assessment for 31 March 1999.
The young child attends one of the primary schools served by my Department's psychological service. He and his parents will be offered an appointment after the Easter holidays in order to discuss with the psychologist and teaching staff the findings from the speech therapy assessment so that remedial treatment may be arranged, if necessary.
I am concerned that students, parents and teachers in all areas of the country should have ready access without any undue delay to the support of educational psychologists. The expansion of provision is one of my priorities as Minister. I shall shortly be establishing the National Educational Psychological Service Agency. As a first step in the implementation of this measure, my Department will shortly be recruiting 25 additional psychologists, who should take up their appointments during the school year 1999-2000. It is envisaged that, at the end of the five year period, every school in the country will have access to an educational psychological service.
The National Educational Psychological Service will be organised in close collaboration with the services provided by the clinical agencies of the health boards. This is in order to minimise delay and to ensure efficient co-ordination of the assistance which is offered to students and their families.
