Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of additional NEPS psychologists to be recruited in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7885/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 118 together.

The terms of the Government decision of February 1999 to establish the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, allowed for the number of psychologists in the educational system to increase gradually to 200. It was envisaged that approximately 180 psychologists would be in NEPS and the balance elsewhere, for example, in the VECs of the city and county of Dublin and in the children detention schools. The complement of psychologists in NEPS has increased almost three fold from 43 psychologists on the date of establishment to 127 psychologists now.

The last panel of 69 psychologists established by the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners has now been exhausted and arrangements for the recently established Public Appointments Service to set up a new panel are at a preliminary stage. I am aware that, at present, some regions have higher numbers of psychologists and a more satisfactory coverage of schools than others. This is related to the difficulty in recruiting staff to certain regions, most notably the mid-western region.

When the next recruitment competition for NEPS psychologists takes place, regional panels, rather than one national panel, will be established. This will allow my Department to prioritise filling vacancies in regions with the greatest need. Any increase in the number of psychologists in NEPS will depend on the availability of resources and must also take account of Government policy on public sector numbers.

Pending the expansion of NEPS to cover all schools, those that are not yet served may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA. The SCPA is an interim measure and was specifically introduced to minimise delays for those children who need to be assessed.