Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 June 2022
92. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education her plans to increase the National Educational Psychological Service in view of the fact that referrals to CAMHS and other mental health services have risen by 40% for primary school pupils as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34907/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of counselling and therapeutic services in Ireland for children and young people is led by the Department of Health, through HSE Primary Care Psychology for low to moderate mental health difficulties and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for more severe mental health difficulties. My Department signposts schools and students to the HSE-funded mental health services. The Department of Education also has an important role to play in supporting the wellbeing and mental health of our young people. The Department’s Wellbeing Policy and Framework for practice has given recognition to the importance of promoting wellbeing in education. It outlines a comprehensive, whole-school approach to the promotion of wellbeing and positive mental health. It focuses on the whole school community, as well as groups and individual young people with identified needs.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of the Department provides a comprehensive, school-based psychological service to all primary and post primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, academic, social and emotional development of all learners. NEPS provides its service to schools through casework and through support and development work for schools. This includes guidance for teachers in the provision of universal and targeted evidence-informed approaches and early intervention to promote children’s wellbeing, social, emotional and academic development. Initiatives such as the Incredible Years Social Emotional learning Programmes and the FRIENDS Resilience Programmes. These programmes have been welcomed by schools and their impact positively evaluated.
NEPS has developed a range of workshops on the promotion of wellbeing and resilience in schools which includes trauma informed approaches. The approaches outlined in the workshops are based on research findings, on the experience of experts in their fields and on the experience of practising psychologists working in schools. The workshops are available to build the capability of school staff in both primary and post-primary settings, including for school leaders, teachers and SNAs.
NEPS’ psychologist numbers currently stand at 224.52 whole-time equivalent (WTE) posts, having grown from a base of 173 in 2014. Any further expansion of the NEPS service will be considered as part of the estimates process for 2023.
