Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. However, I am aware of many frustrated principals, teachers and parents nationwide. While there has been an increase in the number of NEPS psychologists, there has not been an increase in the number of assessments. For example, the number of assessments has declined since 2008, from a total of 10,585 assessments to 9,824. This represents an average of just two assessments or referrals per school per year and that simply is not good enough. Children are slipping through the cracks and teachers, parents and schools are trying to fund-raise to help parents pay for psychological assessments. That is not good enough because children need these assessments. They need the recommendations offered by the assessments to secure resources in secondary schools. In particular, children with dyslexia need such an assessment, which is vital to secure spelling waivers or other accommodations when sitting State examinations. Consequently, I ask for the number of assessments to be increased and for a clear target to be set.

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