Vol. 529 No. 1
1150 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals he has to provide an educational psychological service for all primary schools in the Waterford constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1092/01]
Until the end of 2000, two of the educational psychologists employed by my Department in the National Educational Psychological Service – NEPS – provided a psychological service to all post-primary schools in the city and county of Waterford.
As the Deputy may know, I am developing through NEPS a psychological service that would be available to all schools. A programme of recruitment began last summer. A total of 28 additional psychologists have been appointed since last September. This will allow NEPS to assign two additional psychologists to the Waterford region. They are beginning immediately to work in post-primary schools and will start work in primary schools before Easter. It is envisaged that they will be able to provide a psychological service initially to approximately 7,000 primary school pupils in the city and county.
