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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 2

Written Answers - Psychological Service.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

113 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the growing issue of behavioural problems among school children due to social problems within their families and homes; his views on whether the NEPS is not geared towards dealing with these kinds of problems and that there is a need for counselling services for such troubled children; and the plans he has to provide such a service as a matter of urgency. [12323/01]

The National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, is one of a variety of supports provided my Department in order to meet the needs of students who are having difficulties in school. Many of the NEPS psychologists have relevant experience and training in the area of emotional and behavioural disorders, and programmes of professional development on behavioural management are also made available to them in order to develop their skills further.

NEPS psychologists work in partnership with parents and teachers in order to meet the needs of students with behavioural problems. Their interventions may include individual psychological assessment, classroom observation, and assistance to staff and parents in drawing up action plans. The psychologists may, in certain cases, engage in short-term counselling of students. However, counselling interventions and programmes of behavioural management are usually most effectively carried out by those who have day-to-day contact with the students, namely teachers and parents. In second level schools, guidance counsellors have a particular role to play in this area, while, at primary level, support teachers and home-school-community liaison teachers also help to support young people with difficulties. When particular students and families seem to need more intensive, long-term intervention, NEPS refers them to the appropriate health board or community agencies.

NEPS also has a general remit to promote mental health in schools. In this context, psychologists may assist schools to draft policy and procedures for responding to particular types of behavioural problem, for example, bullying and truancy.

My Department is committed to the development of the NEPS agency in order to provide a swift response to students who are experiencing problems. A programme of recruitment to the agency is well under way and will continue until the overall target of 200 psychologists nation-wide has been achieved.

Question No. 114 answered with Question No. 63.

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