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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

108 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself with the rate of progress of recruitment of additional psychologists to the National Educational Psychological Service; when the target of 200 psychologists will be reached; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this target only amounts to an approximate ratio of one psychologist for every 2,300 children; and the plans he has to improve this ratio. [17126/01]

The planning group that prepared proposals for a national educational psychological service recommended in September 1998 that the Minister for Education and Science should establish a National Educational Psychological Service as an executive agency of the Department. The report also recommended that the agency would have an overall target number of 200 psychologists and that this target should be achieved over a period of five years, beginning during the school year 1999-2000.

The new NEPS agency came into existence on 1 September 1999 with 42 psychologists already employed in the service. The recruitment of additional psychologists involved the organisation of a competition through the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission. Notwithstanding the time-consuming nature of such competitions, there are now 82 psychologists in NEPS and by the end of the school year there will be 100 psychologists in the service. I also intend to proceed with the recruitment of a further 28 psychologists before the end of this year. This will rise the staffing to 128 and greatly improve the service.

It is envisaged that all schools will have access to the NEPS service before the end of the school year 2003-04 and that most will have access well before that time.

The planning group for NEPS examined estimated levels of demand for psychological intervention as well as psychologist-student ratios in other countries. Ratios elsewhere generally vary between one psychologist to 3,000 students and one psychologist to 5,000 students. The exact ratio depends upon the needs of each particular area. At present, NEPS is working towards an overall ratio of one psychologist to 5,000 students but this will allow for variation from area to area, depending upon level of disadvantage, incidence of special needs etc.

The planning group emphasised that there was no exact way of quantifying the number of psychologists that would ultimately be needed and that the experience of the developing Service would provide a basis for future reviews. Since it published its report, there have been considerable changes in the educational system, particularly in relation to provision for special educational needs. The management committee of NEPS has therefore decided to commission a review of the staffing needs of the agency in the light of recent developments and will report to me in due course.

Question No. 109 answered with Question No. 100.
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