Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the motion before the House. It is long established that early intervention is crucial to give a child the best opportunities. For early intervention, we first need an assessment of needs. Otherwise, we are putting the cart before the horse. Early assessment means that the children will be offered suitable resources and supports that will enable them to reach their full potential. If a child is not assessed, supports are not put in place. I was shocked to recently learn that there was only one educational psychologist employed by the HSE in south Cork who has to manage more than 200 referrals per year. I have been told that the referrals are divided into two lists: priority and routine. The priority list can take more than one year and the routine waiting list can take more than two years. South Cork is severely understaffed and I believe that it is not in line with the child-to-psychologist ratio in other areas of the country such as County Donegal.

The Government must act now on its commitment to increase the number of National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, psychologists. Inadequate NEPS staffing is causing huge stress to parents, teachers and students and it cannot continue. Early assessment intervention is key to preventing much bigger problems in children's lives. Furthermore, it has been proven that early intervention saves the Government money in the long run. The Government must make increasing the number of educational psychologists available a priority, particularly in south-west Cork, where, as I mentioned, only one educational psychologist is available to deal with more than 200 referrals per year. It is wholly unacceptable that a child must in some cases wait more than two years for an assessment. This issue needs to be addressed now.

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