Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I am amazed by the contributions made by Government Deputies. I do not know what planet they live on but the National Educational Psychological Service is in tatters and is not being delivered on the ground. In recent weeks, I have spoken to a number of school principals who are working at the coalface and dealing with the frustration caused by waiting lists and the inability to secure an assessment. Even when an assessment takes place, the child's name will be placed on another waiting list for services such as speech and language therapy or occupational therapy. It is a tragedy.

I spoke to the principal of school where six students have been waiting for an assessment since last May. One of the pupils will be assessed before Christmas but the principal does not know when the other five assessments will be carried out. Children must wait for years, which is a long time in their short lives. This neglect causes irreparable damage and it is a sad reflection on us that we do not provide the services children need or an opportunity to allow them develop to their full potential. There is an onus on the education system to educate children and support them in their needs, but this is not happening. Many issues in this regard have been raised here. The NEPS service is not available in 50% or our schools. Many psychologists are not willing to work in the system because remuneration is not adequate, and others are leaving the system. The system is in tatters and our children are being neglected. Our schools now need to take a multidisciplinary approach and if an assessment is required, they must be able to provide the speech therapist, the occupational therapist and all the rest that go with the necessary psychological assessment. We need to discuss this motion again.

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