Vol. 536 No. 2
490 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals he has to deal with the inadequate provision of psychological services for children in County Kerry; if he will put an end to the present situation whereby children and their families are required to wait two to three years for assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13991/01]
My Department is committed to the provision of adequate psychological services for children and young people in schools. The national educational psychological service, an executive agency of my Department, has the responsibility of such provision and is actively engaged in a programme of recruitment of additional psychologists. Each cohort of additional psychologists is being divided equitably among all regions according to the student numbers in each. On this basis, it is envisaged that there will eventually be seven psychologists serving schools in County Kerry.
The current situation in Kerry is that one NEPS psychologist serves all post-primary schools in the county and a second psychologist works part-time in a number of primary schools. From August 2001, the part-time post will become full-time and a third psychologist will be joining the team. Further recruitment will be taking place before the end of 2001 and it will then be possible to increase further the size of the team serving Kerry.
