Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion and compliment Deputy Brian Hayes on tabling it on behalf of the Fine Gael Party. The Government has broken nearly every promise it made regarding the delivery of the National Educational Psychological Service programme. Eight years after its initiation, 50% of all primary schools have no psychological service available to them and the numbers of secondary schools with designated psychologists is falling. It is vital that children presenting with a special needs requirement are assessed without delay. This is not the case.

I regularly speak to parents and school principals and they are disillusioned with the system because it takes so long to secure a psychological assessment for a child. Delays in carrying out assessments affect all the pupils in a given class. The students with special needs fall further behind and other members of the class are affected by disruption.

Why does it take up to two years for a child to secure an assessment? I am aware of a number of cases in County Clare where children waited two years for an assessment and their parents subsequently found that the results were overruled by special education officers. Three children were refused access to school transport as a result of this practice. Two of them were attending St. Anne's special school in Ennis, while the third attends St. Gabriel's school in Limerick. Following extensive pressure and a large number of representations, the decision was revoked. In what way are special education officers qualified to overrule judgments made by qualified psychologists?

Given that full implementation of the NEPS is critical for all pupils and schools, it is beyond belief that the Government intends to cut by 6% funding for the NEPS programme next year. How can it stand over this decision? Will it keep any of the promises made before the general election? I strongly support the motion.

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