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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 1

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

637 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if psychological assessment and resource hours will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [11100/02]

The development plan for the national educational psychological service agency – NEPS – envisages that at least 21 educational psychologists will be appointed to Cork city and county when NEPS achieves full nationwide coverage by the end of 2002. The current establishment is 10.5 psychologists. It is not possible at present to include the school attended by the named pupil in the list of those served by NEPS.

However, I am fully aware of the concern being felt by schools and parents who require psychological support before NEPS can extend to include their areas. Last summer, I announced an initiative whereby funding is being made available to schools to purchase assessment services from suitably qualified private psychologists. This scheme is known as the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments – SCPA. Details of this scheme were circulated to all schools and are also available on the Department's website. The school mentioned by the Deputy may avail of this scheme.

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