Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the way in which psychologists are now working in the education sector; and when the target of 200 will be met. [15939/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The NEPS service involves consultation with teachers and parents about the needs of individual children, direct contact with individual children, support and development work according to the needs of each school and support for relevant specialist teachers such as guidance counsellors and learning support teachers.

In those schools that do not yet have access to the full NEPS service, my Department also funds NEPS to operate the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA. This is an interim measure, designed to ensure that urgent assessment needs are met. All schools, regardless of whether they have access to the full NEPS service, may expect to receive help from NEPS in the event of critical incidents. Also with regard to all schools, NEPS processes applications for reasonable accommodations in certificate examinations and responds to queries in relation to individual children from other sections of my Department and from the specialist agencies.

The complement of psychologists in NEPS has increased from 43 psychologists on the date of establishment to 128 in May 2005, plus two psychologists on career break and one on assignment to another section of the Department. On behalf of my Department, the Public Appointments Service has recently initiated a new recruitment competition for NEPS. Any increase in the overall numbers of psychologists in NEPS will depend on the availability of resources and must also take account of Government policy on public sector numbers.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the NEPS is still not a statutory agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15940/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment of the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, on an administrative basis preceded the enactment of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 and the putting in place of the new National Council for Special Education. I consider that it is prudent to allow these developments to settle before making any final decisions on the long term structure of NEPS.