Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

There was a debate on the National Educational Psychological Service in the other House yesterday. Mental health is a subject close to my heart because I am involved with COPE foundation in Cork. There has been a significant increase in the number of children identified with autism, Asperger's syndrome and other pervasive developmental disorders. We need to consider this issue here. Successive task force reports have stated that the projected full-strength NEPS is insufficient to meet all needs for assessment, treatment or specialisation. The task force on autism commissioned by the Department following the Sinnott case in the High Court is a case in point. Those involved in NEPS do great work. There is an over-reliance on the psychological services of the Health Service Executive, HSE, and voluntary bodies to conduct assessments and interventions. The difficulty is that these bodies have no automatic right of entry into schools or access to teachers and school reports.

The Brothers of Charity in Cork operate a regional assessment clinic but despite their best intentions there is a waiting list of 18 to 24 months. While another assessment team is planned for 2008 it is difficult to see a significant reduction in the number of children with autism and autism related disorders awaiting assessment. Last week, at the conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland, a paper was presented containing the opinions of teachers on the National Educational Psychological Service and, in the main, the findings were positive regarding the work conducted by individual psychologists with pupils. However, negative comments were made regarding difficulty accessing the service, too many demands on psychologists and a general lack of educational psychologists. I ask that the Minister reply to us on this matter, although I know she will say there is a scheme for commissioning private assessments and that more than €2 million has been allocated to it. To my mind that scheme does not represent value for money for pupils, teachers and the education system as a whole.

Senator O'Toole referred to class sizes and the building programme and the Minister mentioned that 1,200 school building projects are under way at the moment. I ask that she prioritise the construction of a new school in Rochestown in my constituency of Cork South-Central. This is a large area of Cork city that has a growing population and while Senator Ryan referred to Dublin 15, this area of Cork city has similar needs and I ask the Minister to prioritise it. Can the Minister give details of the budget for schools building projects in 2008?