Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 3

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

Austin Currie

Ceist:

413 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to parliamentary Question No. 406 of 8 November 2000, which confirmed that a designated disadvantaged school in Dublin 22 had not had a psychologist since September 1998 and that as a result the school had to pay for private assessments costing £2,620 (details supplied) in order to place children in its special class, he will now arrange for the school to be reimbursed. [26407/00]

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

423 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm the appointment of a replacement psychologist for a junior national school (details supplied) in Dublin 22 in view of the fact that the psychologist serving the school has been absent on leave since 1998 and that the school will have incurred thousands of pounds in costs by the end of the academic year in having psychological assessments carried out on a private basis. [26611/00]

(Dr. Woods): I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 and 423 together.

The service provided by the national educational psychological service – NEPS – of my Department to the school named by the Deputy has unfortunately been suspended over the past two school years due to an unforeseen career break. It was not possible to provide a substitute psychologist immediately as recruitment for NEPS has taken longer than anticipated.

Twenty six additional psychologists have been appointed since the beginning of September. One of these psychologists has been assigned to the school named by the Deputies. As soon as she has completed the programme of induction training, she will begin visiting the school. This will be before the end of the current school term.

I am aware of the difficulties that have been experienced by some schools in gaining access to psychological assessments. I have asked officials of my Department to consider, in collaboration with the relevant heath authorities, how the problem of costs incurred by parents in securing private assessments, where no service is provided by the State, might be alleviated.

Question No. 414 taken with Question No. 409.