Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:251 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which he proposes to expand psychological services in primary or second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10515/03]
Vol. 565 No. 2
251 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which he proposes to expand psychological services in primary or second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10515/03]
The planning group that prepared proposals for the national educational psychological service conducted a detailed examination of the need for psychological services in primary and post-primary schools. As a result of its findings, it recommended that 200 psychologists are needed, of whom about 180 would be in NEPS and the remainder elsewhere in the educational system. The planning group also recommended that this target should be achieved over a period of five years, beginning during the school year 1999-2000 and that the psychological service should gradually be expanded to all primary and post-primary schools during that time. The Government accepted the group's report and decided in early 1999 that the recommendations should be implemented.