Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 663: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she proposes to take to address the shortage of Department educational psychologists for both primary and post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22016/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The number of NEPS psychologists has increased almost threefold from 43 psychologists on establishment to 127 psychologists at present, including three NDA psychologists serving with NEPS and one psychologist currently serving with another section of the Department. This number does not include two psychologists who are on career break.

All schools which do not have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA, whereby they can commission assessments from a member of a panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS and NEPS will pay the fees directly to the psychologists concerned. Details of this scheme, including the conditions that apply to it, are available on my Department's website.

NEPS also provides assistance for all schools which suffer from critical incidents, regardless of whether they have a NEPS psychologist assigned to them. Also, in relation to all schools, NEPS processes applications for reasonable accommodations in certificate examinations.

On behalf of my Department, the Public Appointments Service is conducting a new recruitment competition for NEPS. Regional panels, rather than one national panel, will be established on the results of this new competition. This will allow my Department to give greater priority in filling vacancies to areas with the greatest need. Any increase in the overall numbers of psychologists in NEPS must take account of Government policy on public sector numbers.