Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
372. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools which do not have direct access to a National Educational Psychological Service psychologist for the purposes of carrying out an educational assessment, per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41321/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides an educational psychological service to schools through the direct assignment of a NEPS psychologist and in some cases through by providing schools access to the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) where 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 following table provides a count of school by county who do not currently have access to a NEPS Psychologist for the purposes of carrying out an assessment and who derive this service through the above mentioned SCPA scheme. In respect of NEPS staffing, NEPs psychologists are recruited via regional panels formed from national recruitment competitions administered by the Public Appointments service.
In the case of some schools, NEPs psychologists may no longer be assigned to those schools as a result of retirement, resignation or transfer to another NEPs region, and while every effort was made to fill the resulting vacancy during 2016 from the existing PAS panels was not successful and the panel was closed.
A new national recruitment competition was has been put in place by PAS to fill vacancies within all NEPS Regions. The closing date for applications is now passed and work is currently ongoing in relation to the examination of applications and short-listing of candidates for interview. It is envisaged, following interviews, that recruitment panels will be formed and active filling of vacancies will commence in the coming months.
Additionally a number of the assigned NEPS psychologists to schools, set out on the list, are currently absent due to maternity leave, long-term sick leave or carer's leave necessitating a temporary cessation of NEPS coverage.
However it is important to point out that in cases where NEPS service is not available through staffing vacancy or temporary absence of staff, as described above, the schools affected continue to have access to a psychologist through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments to undertake pupil assessment work.
It is also important to note also that all schools are able to access full NEP supports in the event of a critical incident irrespective of their having ongoing access to an assigned NEPS psychologist or not.
Count by County of schools which do not currently have access to a NEPS psychologist for the purposes of carrying out an educational assessment
|
County |
Lack of Access to NEPS Psychologist due to staffing Vacancies |
Temporary lack of Access to NEPS Psychologist due Maternity, Long-term Sick or Carers Leave |
Total Schools |
|
Cavan |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Cork |
47 |
47 |
|
|
Donegal |
32 |
32 |
|
|
Dublin |
101 |
30 |
131 |
|
Galway |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Kildare |
4 |
16 |
20 |
|
Laois |
24 |
24 |
|
|
Leitrim |
14 |
14 |
|
|
Longford |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Louth |
13 |
44 |
57 |
|
Mayo |
68 |
68 |
|
|
Meath |
67 |
4 |
71 |
|
Monaghan |
8 |
8 |
|
|
Offaly |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Sligo |
12 |
12 |
|
|
Wexford |
26 |
26 |
|
|
Wicklow |
14 |
15 |
29 |
|
Total |
321 |
223 |
544 |
The following revised table was received from the Department on 23 February 2017
Count by County of schools which do not currently have access to a NEPS psychologist for the purposes of carrying out an educational assessment (ref: 13/1/17)
|
County |
Lack of Access to NEPS Psychologist due to staffing Vacancies |
Temporary lack of Access to NEPS Psychologist due Maternity, Long-term Sick or Carers Leave |
Total Schools |
|
Cavan |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Cork |
46 |
47 |
93 |
|
Donegal |
32 |
32 |
|
|
Dublin |
46 |
26 |
72 |
|
Dublin Mid/Leinster |
55 |
4 |
59 |
|
Galway |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Kildare |
4 |
16 |
20 |
|
Laois |
29 |
29 |
|
|
Leitrim |
5 |
14 |
19 |
|
Longford |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Louth |
13 |
44 |
57 |
|
Mayo |
68 |
68 |
|
|
Meath |
67 |
4 |
71 |
|
Monaghan |
8 |
8 |
|
|
Offaly |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Sligo |
1 |
12 |
13 |
|
Waterford |
12 |
12 |
|
|
Wexford |
29 |
29 |
|
|
Wicklow |
14 |
15 |
29 |
|
Grand Total |
397 |
223 |
619 |
