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Psychological Assessments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Ceisteanna (495, 496, 498)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

495. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on the results of a survey (details supplied) of 37 schools in the north-east Leinster area and the percentage found to have not been assigned a NEPS psychologist and that have been granted assessments through the scheme for the commissioning of psychological assessments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52354/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

496. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on the results of a survey (details supplied) of 37 schools in the north-east Leinster area and the percentage found to have not yet managed to source a psychologist through the SCPA scheme to complete psychological assessments to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52355/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

498. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on the results of a survey (details supplied) of 37 schools in the north-east Leinster area regarding the percentage of schools surveyed that have been assigned a NEPS psychologist in the 2021-2022 academic year and last academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52357/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 495, 496 and 498 together.

My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) 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 where there is need 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 maximise 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. It is important to note also that under the Special Education Teacher allocation model, a NEPS assessment is not required for students to access learning supports.

Every school, including the 37 schools which are the focus of this question, have access to NEPS for critical incident support, for regional support and development and also to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries, through the local NEPS office.

In relation to a casework service, schools that are temporarily without an assigned psychologist have access to casework via psychologists on the SCPA panel, where there is need. SCPA psychologists are invited to renew their membership every year. The recent increase in fee in March 2021 for psychological assessments completed under the SCPA scheme has realised additional SCPA psychologists available nationally, including in the North East region. In addition, this increase in fee has realised an increased willingness by SCPA psychologists to engage in this work.

Where vacancies arise, NEPS seeks to recruit psychologists to fill these vacant posts. Following completion of a recent recruitment competition by the Public Appointments Service, vacant posts in NEPS are now being filled.

Question No. 496 answered with Question No. 495.
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