Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, for attending. I am glad this matter was selected because, to a certain extent, I am not surprised when we get representations in regard to waiting times for assessments, access to therapies or even National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, appointments. When I first saw the letter from the school, “NEPS” jumped out at me on the page and I thought it was going to be about the number of assessments the school had. I know many schools find it very difficult, when they only have a certain number of assessments per year, to go through their list and nearly have to pick who they think deserves it most, even though all students who need an assessment deserve it equally. The letter states the school has no NEPS psychologist and that none has been assigned to the school, which is very concerned at the loss of this vital support.

The school NEPS psychologists work with both primary and post-primary schools and are concerned with learning behaviour and social and emotional development. Each of the 221 psychologists is assigned to a group of schools and, earlier this year, this school, Newtown Dunleckney National School in Carlow, was notified that no NEPS psychologist had been assigned. Sometimes, when a Topical Issue matter is selected, I am hopeful this means there might be some positive news or development on the way, so I hope the Minister of State has some good news for that school and that it will have a NEPS psychologist. I am sure the school has furnished a copy of this letter to the Department or the Minister of State. The school is encouraging people to go to their GP to get a referral, but it knows those students are going onto a never-ending waiting list, which is extremely demoralising.

At the end of all of this, we have to think of the children who are being denied access to a full and proper education if they need an assessment and are not getting that, particularly if there is no psychologist. It sometimes happens that if there is any sort of sudden or tragic event in a school, it is usually the NEPS psychologist who is called in, so what does a school in this situation do? That is just one part of it. The main thing is the assessments children vitally need, given the difference it can make to a child in terms of being able to access additional resource hours or access to a special needs assistant.

We are always told people do not necessarily need a diagnosis, yet experience would say different. People will say that when they are trying to access these resource hours, special needs assistants or additional supports, they are told they need to have a diagnosis. I would be interested to hear what the Minister of State has to stay to that particular school on not having a NEPS psychologist.

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