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Psychological Services in Schools

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 May 2012

Thursday, 24 May 2012

Ceisteanna (92, 93)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

90 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent if any to which psychological assessment and or support is available for children at primary and post-primary level; if any weaknesses in the system have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26119/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

91 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which psychological problems have been identified in school children at primary or second level; the extent of support service, if any, put in place arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26120/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.

As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved and paid for by NEPS.

Additionally NEPS provides recommendations to the State Examinations Commission on applications from Leaving Certificate students under the Reasonable Accommodation for Certificate Examinations (RACE) scheme. NEPS psychologists, upon request from school authorities, also directly assist school communities who have the subject of a critical incident, a traumatic event such as the death of a pupil or teacher. In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem solving and solution focused consultative approach to maximize positive outcomes for these pupils. NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they need to at this stage in the process. Only in the event of a failure to make reasonable progress, in spite of the school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, will the psychologist become involved with an individual child for intensive intervention (referrals). This system allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually. It also ensures that children are not referred unnecessarily for psychological intervention.

For the Deputy's information in 2010/11 NEPS psychologists were involved with referrals (casework) in relation to individual named students in respect of some 7,880 pupils. The nature or primary reason for these referrals broke down as follows: Learning Difficulties: 63%, Emotional/Behavioural Difficulties: 15%, Review: 12% Irish Exemption/Poor Attendance/ Other: 8%, Placement Advice: 3%. Such referrals will normally involve the application of psychometric test and the production of a report setting out findings on and remedial recommendations to the educational need identified. In addition NEPS psychologists made recommendations to the State Examinations Commission in relation to over 4,500 applicants for RACE allowance. Under the SCPA process private psychologists provided assessment to schools not assigned a NEPS psychologists for 2,389 pupils in 2010/11.

During this period therefore the NEPS service catered for some 14,769 named pupils. As described within the Model of Service above, in addition to assessment and interventions with individual named pupils NEPS psychologists also offer general advice and guidance on unnamed pupils which are not recorded on the Casetrack System. It is estimated (extrapolated on survey data) that NEPS psychologists had input into in excess of an additional 10,000 pupils per annum. During the period NEPS psychologists also attended and assisted is some 98 Critical Incidents. At the end of 2011 NEPS assigned its 173 psychologists nationwide to some 86% of primary schools (representing some 91% of pupils) and 94% of Post-Primary schools (representing 95% of pupils).

Question No. 92 answered with question No. 67.
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