Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2004
114 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to increase the number of psychologists employed by the National Education Psychology Service to ensure that children awaiting psychological assessment are not subject to unacceptable delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24691/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are 127 psychologists in the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, including three psychologists from the National Disability Authority, who are working in NEPS under a contractual arrangement. It is hoped that five more psychologists will be taking up employment in NEPS shortly.
Further recruitment of psychologists to NEPS will depend on the availability of resources and must also take account of Government policy on public sector numbers. Pending the expansion of NEPS to cover all schools, those that are not yet served may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA. The SCPA is an interim measure and was specifically introduced to minimise delays for those children who need to be assessed.
