Vol. 514 No. 4
199 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science further to reply to Parliamentary Question No. 267 of 9 June 1998, the plans, if any, he has to extend the special development project organised by his Department's psychological service in the primary sector to other primary schools; if he will include Kilcredan primary school in County Cork in any new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4596/00]
The National Educational Psychological Service – NEPS – agency was established on 1 September 1999. The management committee of NEPS is preparing a development plan for the phased expansion of the service to all schools in the country which, it is envisaged, will take five years. 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 Cork, are being collected by NEPS and this will be supplemented by local discussions. 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 NEPS. The process is well advanced and my Department hopes to be in a position to make offers of appointment in the near future.
