Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2015
381. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 has a special dedicated provision of a National Educational Psychological Service psychologist this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35406/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), full details of which are on the Department's website. Under this scheme schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.
The SCPA scheme is generally used within each NEPS region to provide service to schools where NEPS psychologist staff time is lost temporarily through maternity, parental or sick leave or in any hiatus prior to recruitment following the retirement or resignation of a staff member.
I understand that the school in question has been given access to the SCPA scheme for the current year in conjunction with access to an advisory service from NEPS personnel as needs arise.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
