Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 3 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 1

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

86 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which Carlow and Kilkenny are serviced by school educational psychologists; the way in which this service operates if it is based in this constituency; and where it is located. [14753/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

A psychologist employed by my Department provides a psychological service to all second level schools in counties Carlow and Kilkenny. As yet, my Department does not provide a psychological service to primary schools in the county.

The psychologist concerned is based in Dublin and spends a number of days each week during term time in Carlow and Kilkenny. The psychologist visits second level schools in the area on a regular basis and provides a consultation service to school principals, guidance counsellors and other teachers in respect of individual students. Psychological assessments and other casework are provided as time allows.

I am aware that there is a need for a psychological service to be readily available to all schools, and the provision of this has been one of my priorities during my time in office. I will shortly be announcing the establishment of the National Educational Psychological Service Agency. 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 for every county by the end of 1999.

The new National Educational Psychological Service Agency will be organised on the basis of local teams of psychologists, based in offices near to the schools which they serve.