Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Earlier this week, the Minister published the DEIS plan.

This plan does not even restore the funding for DEIS schools to 2015 levels. There is actually €13 million less in funding, no plan to restore the rural co-ordinator and no plan to increase the number of NEPS psychologists. There are only ten additional NEPS psychologists which is inadequate for DEIS schools which are faced with a range of complex problems in disadvantaged communities. The figure the Minister provided from the Department that there were 500 schools without NEPS psychologists is not correct. I received a phone call from NEPS this very week and note to the Minister that there are actually 600 schools without NEPS psychologists. I ask the Minister to update the Dáil record to ensure he is not misleading the public or schools. I also ask the Minister to consider reinstating the funding to 2015 levels, reinstating the rural co-ordinator and ensuring that all schools across the State have adequate access to NEPS psychologists.

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