Vol. 518 No. 3
283 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Science the improvements planned for new appointments in the psychological service in County Laois where the service is almost non-existent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11381/00]
All second level schools in County Laois have access to the national educational psychological service. The management committee of NEPS is preparing a development plan for the phased expansion of the service 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 Laois, is being collected by NEPS and this will be supplemented by local discussion.
I am pleased to inform you that the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission is currently completing the process of recruiting additional psychologists for the national educational psychological service. The process is well advanced and my Department hopes to be in a position to make offers of appointment in the near future.
Eventually, psychologists in the national educational psychological service will be organised in 10 regions, corresponding to the health board regions. Assignment of newly appointed psychologists will be made in the most transparent and fair way possible. I am aware that certain counties have very little access to psychological services at present and I can assure the Deputy that this factor will be taken into account in planning the expansion of NEPS.
