Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)

There are huge plans to increase the number of psychologists. We have a lot of work to do regarding psychologists in the first instance and there are blockages within the system we must ensure are taken out in order to have extra provision across the country. Even the plans for therapists within special schools and to get qualified therapists in situ will be hugely important. There are 240 educational psychologists employed in NEPS and there are 57 vacancies. It is about being able to recruit psychologists.

That said, much work is being done in the Cabinet subcommittee on disability to increase the number of places in third level education. We have a shortage of psychologists, OTs and speech and language therapists and we are trying to use every arm of the State to get more people trained and into the system.