I am aware that problems have arisen in relation to situations of the kind raised by the Deputy. In the past, responsibility for the assessment of national school children rested with the health boards or with voluntary organisations under their aegis. Whilst real progress is being made in the recruitment of additional psychologists for the national educational psychological service, NEPS, agency, the agency will not be up to its full projected strength until the end of its five year development phase. This has led to a lacuna in the provision of assessments in some areas of the country.
I am committed to the development of a quality educational psychological service that will adequately meet the needs of our children and young people. It is essential, therefore, that the expansion of NEPS should proceed in a phased and orderly way in order to allow time for newly appointed psychologists to have an adequate induction period before being assigned to their areas.
Earlier in the year, therefore, my predecessor wrote to the then Minister for Health and Children, drawing his attention to the situation, and asking him to request the health boards to attempt to continue providing an assessment service during the development phase of NEPS. He readily agreed to do this and I know that he has written to the health boards about the matter.
A management committee oversees the overall development of NEPS. This consists of officials from my Department, the Department of Health and Children and of the health boards. The management committee has also identified the issue raised by the Deputy as one that requires an early solution and is anxious to ensure that schools should be kept informed of the progress being made by NEPS as the service develops and will advise its officers accordingly. In addition, the committee is developing an action plan for co-ordination of the educational and clinical psychological services. The production of national guidelines will be followed by local discussions so that satisfactory arrangements for the provision of assessments can be made in each area.
