Tom Clonan (Independent)

NEPS is a great service and it absolutely needs to recruit educational psychologists, but this method is tailoring a doctoral training course to be specific to the needs of NEPS to the exclusion of all the other areas where the need is more acute while children are going into psychological distress for want of a brief intervention. Some of those children go on to develop serious issues and problems that become life-altering and life-limiting. If we were to look at the area of most pressing need, the logical conclusion would be to accredit a course that qualifies graduates not only to work in NEPS, where they are absolutely needed, but also to work elsewhere. I appreciate the Minister of State's assurance that he will speak to the Minister, Deputy Lawless, about this. It is a mistake. I understand the reasoning behind it, but it is a lost opportunity when all the other areas could benefit.

However, I thank the Minister of State for his engagement and I appreciate his assurances.