Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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323. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to address concerns (details supplied) regarding the funding of current trainee educational psychologists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32739/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has been examining the matter of how NEPS can continue to recruit adequate numbers of suitably qualified staff and continue to respond to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country.

Following the introduction by the Department of a bursary to support Trainee Educational Psychologists in their third year (or third year equivalent) of professional training in University College Dublin (UCD) and Mary Immaculate College (MIC), who expect to graduate in 2023, officials in my Department are currently liaising with Mary Immaculate College and University College Dublin to finalise funding supports for students of the educational psychological doctorate programme who would graduate in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and would be in a position to apply for the next NEPS recruitment competition that takes place in their final year of study and/or subsequent recruitment competitions thereafter.