Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 3

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

332 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary and secondary schools which receive a service from the National Educational Psychological Service in the Dublin south-west area; the names of the schools in the area which do not receive a service from NEPS; and when he expects that all primary and secondary schools in the area will be receiving a service from NEPS. [25084/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

333 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary and secondary schools, which receive a service from the National Educational Psychological Service in the south Dublin county local authority area; the names of the schools in the area which do not receive a service from NEPS; and when he expects that all primary and secondary schools in the area will be receiving a service from NEPS. [25085/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

334 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary and secondary schools, which receive a service from the National Educational Psychological Service in the Dublin City Council local authority area; the names of the schools in the area which do not receive a service from NEPS; and when he expects that all primary and secondary schools in the area will be receiving a service from NEPS. [25086/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

335 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary and secondary schools, which receive a service from the National Educational Psychological Service in the Fingal County Council local authority area; the names of the schools in the area which do not receive a service from NEPS; and when he expects that all primary and secondary schools in the area will be receiving a service from NEPS. [25087/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

336 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary and secondary schools which receive a service from the National Educational Psychological Service in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown local authority area; the names of the schools in the area which do not receive a service from NEPS; and when he expects that all primary and secondary schools in the area will be receiving a service from NEPS. [25088/03]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 to 336, inclusive, together.

The National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, is organised on a regional basis. Schools in the greater Dublin area are shared between three regions. The south-west area serves schools in south-west Dublin, west County Dublin, County Kildare and west Wicklow. The east coast area serves schools in south-east Dublin, south County Dublin and east Wicklow. The northern area serves schools in the city and county of Dublin north of the Liffey.

As a number of psychologists have recently joined NEPS, changes are being made in the allocation of schools and some additional schools will shortly have access to the psychological service. The lists will be completed by the middle of November and full details for the three regions will then be forwarded to the Deputy. Due to general staffing constraints, it is unlikely that there will be any further expansion of the NEPS service during the current school year.

At present, schools that do not have access to the service may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments. Details of this scheme have been circulated to all schools and also appear on my Department's website.