At the request of the school which the pupil referred to by the Deputy attends, my Department sanctioned ten hours per week of extra one-to-one tuition for January and four hours per week for February. This extra support was provided in order that the school in question could give the pupil the additional help required to enable him to catch up with course assignments. This extra resource provision made available by my Department will be reviewed at the end of the current month. My Department will consider any application which the school authorities may make for a continuation of additional supports.
The psychologist assigned to the school by the National Educational Psychological Service has been liaising with the school principal and will continue to do so. I understand that the pupil's parents have sought an appointment with the local health services for counselling. The NEPS psychologist is supporting this referral, with a view to having the pupil's case prioritised for attention.