Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree completely with Deputy Wallace. The other issue is the number of National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, psychologists available. I recognise the number has increased under this Government. I think it has gone back up to the 2011 number. However, when NEPS psychologists go on maternity leave or are out sick, they are not replaced. Therefore, we never have a full allocation of NEPS psychologists available and that is having an impact on the number of assessments, which lead to IEPs being put in place, that can be carried out. That area needs to be addressed.

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