Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

248 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of places for psychologists available within the educational system; if he is satisfied that this meets the needs of the profession; the meetings he has had with relevant agencies or with the Department of Health and Children to assess or improve the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18741/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

In 1997, the Government established a planning group to prepare proposals for a national educational psychological service, NEPS. The planning group consisted of representatives of the partners in education and the Departments of Education and Science, Health and Children and Finance. Associations representing the interests of psychologists were also represented.

The planning group surveyed the availability of educational psychological services in all areas of the country and reported to my Department in 1998. It made a number of recommendations including an estimate that 200 psychologists would be needed in the educational system to provide psychological support for all primary and second level schools. It also recommended that this target should be achieved over a period of five years, beginning during the school year 1999-00.

The Government made a decision in early 1999 that these recommendations should be implemented. Since the establishment of the NEPS agency in September 1999, the number of psychologists assigned to the agency has almost tripled, rising from 43 in 1999, to over 120 psychologists at present. In addition, approximately ten psychologists are employed elsewhere in the educational system, mainly in the vocational educational schemes in the city and county of Dublin. Another group of up to15 psychologists is due to join NEPS in September 2003. The recruitment of additional psychologists will be undertaken, as resources permit. Only when the final target of 200 psychologists has been reached will my Department be in a position to review the adequacy of this number in the light of developments in the educational system.