Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this subject. I congratulate Deputy Enright on tabling the motion. In the course of her contribution, she raised the issue of enhanced resources and pointed out that half of all primary schools do not have access to NEPS. Many young children who need extra assistance from an early stage in their education are being left behind by the Government. By the time these children reach second level, they have become increasingly frustrated with the system and this contributes to disruptive classroom behaviour.

The Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, is in the neighbouring constituency to mine and one could say she is a good neighbour. However, while Deputy Enright said 50% of schools do not have a psychological service, in Limerick only 9% of schools are covered by NEPS. Why are Limerick primary schools being discriminated against by the Government in the provision of educational psychological services? The Minister of State is aware of the importance of these services, especially for children with special needs and for the teachers who need advice to deal with the many difficulties that now arise in schools. These difficulties often lead to the disruptive behaviour referred to in the motion.

I formally call on the Minister for Education and Science to address immediately the fact that the lowest level of service from the NEPS is provided in Limerick, with only 13 of the 148 primary schools assigned NEPS cover. In February 2005, the figure was an unacceptable 33 schools or 22% of Limerick's primary schools. The figure of 9% a year later compares unfavourably with places such as Galway, on the north side of the Minister of State's constituency, which has 72% coverage. Why does Limerick only have 9%? Access to the dedicated psychological service of the Department of Education and Science should not be dependent on where a child lives. Why should children in Limerick have less service than those in Galway?

All schools should have this service. The service is in place to support the personal, social and educational development of all children through the application of psychological theory and practice in education, having particular regard to children with special educational needs. It is a disgrace that Limerick schools have the least service in the country.

The fact that the number of primary schools nationally with direct access to psychologists is averaging 50%, which includes special schools, has been severely criticised. Psychologists assess the requirements of pupils with special educational needs. They should be available at times of critical incidents such as tragic deaths, including deaths of members of a pupil's family from suicide, road deaths and other tragic deaths or tragic events for school pupils. The excuse the Minister for Education and Science put forward in the Dáil last week, namely, that the increases in net numbers must take account of public policy on public sector numbers, is totally unacceptable.

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