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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 1996

Vol. 146 No. 7

Adjournment Matters. - Laois-Offaly Schools Psychological Service.

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this matter. The motion relates to the appointment of a psychologist for primary schools in County Laois and County Offaly and when such an appointment will be made. Many pupils attend primary schools with the result that class sizes are quite large. For long periods many teachers are unable to ascertain whether a child has a problem. It may take some time for a teacher to realise that a child is not making progress or that they have emotional or academic problems. Some children may also suffer from speech problems, low self-esteem or a lack of confidence in their own work. Parents and teachers may take some time to realise the extent of such problems.

I understand that there are no educational psychologists in any of the primary schools in County Laois and County Offaly. At present if a child has a psychological problem it is first noted by the teacher, who then contacts the Midland Health Board. The Midland Health Board, serving the area in which I live, does not have an educational psychologist. The educational psychologist for the area is attached to Moore Abbey in Monasterevin, which is run by the Sisters of Charity, who supply the service to the Midland Health Board. A child with psychological problems, who is the responsibility of the health board in the first instance, visits this psychologist. The child is then assessed but there is no back-up or ongoing service. At present the service is particularly limited. I understand that there is a waiting period of approximately seven months before a child is interviewed by the educational psychologist. Therefore, the service is almost non-existent.

The Minister has initiated a pilot scheme for post-primary pupils which will involve the appointment of approximately ten educational psychologists, one of whom will be based in Tullamore. I welcome this advance, which is a small step in the right direction, because this problem must be addressed.

I recently read an article about problem children and problems which arise in later life. An experienced teacher in a primary school can recognise at an early stage that children are experiencing problems by the way they dress, their manners, their approach to authority, etc. Unless a child's problems are addressed and rectified, they will proceed to cause real problems later in life. The individual involved will progress from being a problem child to a problem teenager to a problem citizen. A proper investment at primary school level will be of enormous benefit to society.

I request that two psychologists be appointed to deal with primary schools in County Laois and County Offaly. I am aware that this will take time and money but it is essential that it takes place. Pupils have been neglected and such children tend to suffer from that neglect for the rest of their lives. However, if the problem is addressed at an early stage, a solution or remedy can be provided. I appeal strongly to the Minister to have the problem, as it relates to County Laois and County Offaly, rectified.

I thank Senator Enright for raising this matter. I accept the strong case which he has made. One cannot overstress the importance of recognising problems at the earliest possible stage. Senator Enright correctly emphasised that a problem child can become a problem teenager or citizen in later life and welcomed what he termed a "small step in the right direction". However, he will be aware that there is a matter of resources, a word which is always used in these circumstances.

In general, the responsibility for the psychological assessment of children in primary schools, where such is deemed necessary, is a matter for the regional health boards through the appropriate director of community care. Parents may access this service through the school medical service or the family doctor.

The psychological service for primary schools from the Department of Education is in a limited number of areas with priority given to schools serving disadvantaged areas. Parents may access this service, where available, through the school. However, it will be some time before this service will be in a position to take over responsibility for psychological assessment for educational purposes from the health boards. It has not proved possible as yet to provide such a service from the Department to schools in County Offaly and County Laois.

Consideration of the recruitment of psychologists in 1996 will have to be in accord with the Government decision on limiting recruitment to the Civil Service and will be subject to the financial limits of the Department's administrative budget. When further expansion of the Department of Education's psychological service becomes possible, the needs of children and of schools in various areas, including County Offaly and County Laois, will be borne in mind. I am sure that at that stage the Senator's remarks will also be borne in mind.

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