Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

Unlike Deputy Curran, I sincerely thank Deputy Brian Hayes for introducing this motion. Some 40% of primary schools in County Kerry lack this service. I conducted a survey last year and discovered from the INTO that only 52% of schools in the county had the service. Such a service is simply unacceptable.

Schools are expected to generate two or more assessments per 100 pupils, depending on location. Even where the service is provided, it is insufficient. Assessments by educational psychologists are essential if primary schools are to be able to identify and meet children's special learning needs. It is vital that special needs are identified early and learning programmes developed if the children are to reach their full potential. Regular support from educational psychologists is crucial and it is necessary that NEPS psychologists are assigned to particular schools.

As anybody involved in education would attest, further development work is needed because it is not merely a matter of writing a report and leaving it at that. The commissioning scheme is not working at present because it only provides for reports. A teacher informed me last week that many psychologists are less than enthusiastic about the scheme because the fee for assessments has not increased since its introduction. Private psychologists have long waiting lists and they are not going to put somebody to the front if they receive less money for seeing that person.

A fully staffed psychological service for schools is critical to ensure all children, regardless of family means, are assessed. It is fundamentally wrong that some children are assessed because their parents can afford private care whereas those without the necessary means must do without or depend on charity. Several Deputies noted that one of St. Vincent de Paul's most important services is supporting parents is having their children assessed, provided a psychologist is available.

In the area of emotional health, a clinical psychiatrist rather than an educational psychologist is required to diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, the clinical psychiatry service is completely inadequate and has failed the youngsters of Ireland.

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