Psychological Service.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 April 2004

Tuesday, 6 April 2004

Ceisteanna (138)

David Stanton

Ceist:

223 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if, when the national education psychological service following assessment recommends that a child needs a certain number of resource hours allocation, his Department will take steps to ensure that the allocation is made available; if his attention has been drawn to the instances in which NEPS recommendations have not been followed due to monetary and staffing resource shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10511/04]

Freagraí scríofa

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

My Department considers applications by schools for special education resources on the basis of the provisions of the relevant official circulars. Copies of these circulars are posted on my Department's website. I am not aware of any case where procedures were not followed due to monetary or staffing resource shortages.

My Department is reviewing existing arrangements for the allocation of SER supports to primary schools and my officials have initiated discussions on the matter with representative interests. At this stage, it would be premature to anticipate the outcome. I can confirm, however that the basic purpose of that review is to ensure that each school has the level of resources required to cater for its pupils with special educational needs. Outstanding SER applications will be processed on the basis of the arrangements introduced as a result of the review.