Vol. 513 No. 4
238 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no educational psychologist located in County Donegal; and the plans, if any, he has to appoint a person in Donegal to provide a service for pupils in need of this service. [2818/00]
All second level schools in County Donegal have access to the national educational psychological service, NEPS, established by my Department last year. The management committee of NEPS is preparing a development plan for the phased expansion of the service to all schools. The priorities for expansion will be agreed by the management committee in consultation with local interests, including other providers of psychological services. Relevant data about each county, including County Donegal, is being collected by NEPS and this will be supplemented by local discussion.
I am committed to the development of a quality educational psychological service that will adequately meet the needs of our children and young people. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission is currently in the process of recruiting additional psychologists for the national educational psychological service agency. The process is well advanced and my Department hopes to be in a position to make offers of appointment in the near future.
