Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:288 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of educational psychologists currently serving County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14570/99]
Written Answers. - Psychological Service.
One of the psychologists employed by my Department provides a psychological service to all second level schools in County Donegal. As yet, my Department does not provide a psychological service to primary schools in the county.
However, expansion of the psychological service of my Department has now begun. The Department of Finance has given sanction for the Civil Service Commission to advertise for additional psychologists and the advertisements were placed during May. It is intended to appoint 25 psychologists during 1999. The implementation plan for the new National Educational Psychological Service Agency provides for the appointment of additional psychologists during the year 2000. It is envisaged that all schools will have access to the psychological service at the end of a five-year period, and it is hoped that there will be the nucleus of a psychological service in every county by the end of 1999.
Decisions on the assignments of the additional psychologists will be made later in the year. Priority for the expansion of the psychological service will be given to those areas with a high incidence of educational disadvantage and with little access to other psychological services. My Department is, therefore, currently examining the needs and resources in all areas, including County Donegal, in order to set priorities.