Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 March 2006
198 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans to extend the National Educational Psychological Service to all of County Clare’s primary schools; the proportion of County Clare primary schools which are currently without the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9647/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll schools in County Clare have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, or the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA, full details of which are available on my Department's website. The latest figures indicate that 50% of primary schools — 65% of pupils — and all post-primary schools in County Clare have access to a dedicated NEPS service at present.
In addition, NEPS provides a service to every school and school community in the event of a critical incident regardless of whether the school already has a dedicated service from a NEPS psychologist. Also in relation to all schools, NEPS processes applications for reasonable accommodations in certificate examinations and responds to queries concerning individual children from other sections of my Department and from the specialist agencies.
The number of NEPS psychologists has increased from 43 on establishment to 122 at present. The Public Appointments Service recently concluded a new recruitment competition for the appointment of educational psychologists to NEPS. Regional panels have been established to allow my Department give greater priority in filling vacancies to areas with the greatest need. My Department has recruited two new psychologists and is currently in the process of recruiting a further nine, four of whom are to be assigned to the mid-western region. This is expected to lead to a significant increase in the number of schools in the region, including primary schools in County Clare, enjoying a dedicated NEPS service. Any increase in the overall numbers of psychologists in NEPS must take account of Government policy on public sector numbers.
199 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans to provide mental health services, where appropriate, to County Clare’s secondary schools; the proportion of schools which are currently with such a service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9648/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll post-primary schools in County Clare have access to a dedicated service from the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. The promotion of mental health in schools is one of the main objectives of NEPS. The NEPS psychologists working in County Clare work closely with the guidance counsellors and co-ordinators of social personal health education — SPHE — in the schools regarding mental health issues. The NEPS psychologists also liaise with the Health Service Executive and have contributed, on a collaborative basis, to the training of teachers in student support in the context of mental health issues in County Clare post-primary schools.
