Vol. 520 No. 5
60 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science his assessment of the availability of educational psychologists to school children compared to the estimated level of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16191/00]
A planning group, representative of all the partners in education, was established in 1997 to examine the level of need for an educational psychological service and to make recommendations for the future. The planning group produced its report in September 1998 and recommended that my Department should establish a National Educational Psychological Service Agency – NEPS – with an overall target number of 200 psychologists, to be achieved over a five year development period. The Government decided, in early 1999, to accept the recommendations of the planning group and the NEPS agency was formally established on 1 September 1999.
It is estimated that there are currently over 60 psychologists already working in the education sector. Up to 50 additional psychologists will be appointed to NEPS during the year 2000. I have already approved the appointment of 25 of these psychologists, whose names have been recommended to me by the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission. This means that almost 100 educational psychologists will be in post by the end of the year. It is envisaged that there will be a fully operating psychological service to all schools by the end of 2004.
