Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
985. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if a record is kept of the number of students who are referred by their school for a private psychological assessment each year due to the limited number of NEPS referrals assigned to an individual school in one year in each county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40081/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).
NEPS does not maintain waiting lists but in common with many other psychological services and best international practice, 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 oriented 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 or assessment.
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.
NEPS hold records of the casework service provided by NEPS psychologists and SCPA psychologists funded by NEPS, in each school annually. In relation to the Deputy’s request, NEPS does not hold records of the students who are referred by their schools for a private psychological assessment, separate from the NEPS service or the NEPS-funded SCPA service.
