Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:328 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be assessed by an educational psychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29615/01]
Written Answers. - Psychological Service.
There have been some difficulties in responding to the volume of requests for individual psychological assessments in the north-western region of the national educational psychological service, NEPS. However, earlier this year I announced the allocation of extra funding to NEPS to enable schools to commission assessments from private practitioners. This is a short-term measure, pending the further expansion of the psychological service.
NEPS has issued guidelines for this scheme to all schools. A letter has also recently been sent to Carndonagh community school, advising it that it may avail of the scheme. The school may, therefore, arrange an assessment privately for the student named by the Deputy. NEPS will arrange payment for the assessment, within the parameters laid down in the guidelines.