Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide details of the 2001 announcement regarding the proposed decentralisation of the NEPS section of her Department to Mullingar. [29844/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of persons who have taken up positions in Mullingar to date under the NEPS decentralisation programme. [29845/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.

The National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, is organised into ten regions, roughly equivalent to the former health board areas. In June 2001 my predecessor announced the establishment of a number of regional offices throughout the country as part of the programme of structural reform of my Department. The programme followed on from the publication of Mr. Seán Cromien's report on his review of the organisation and structures of my Department. Each office was to provide a point of contact between my Department and the region it served as well as providing accommodation for members of NEPS and the inspectorate serving schools in the region. It was also envisaged that these offices could accommodate staff of other bodies, such as the National Education Welfare Board, NEWB, and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which provide direct services in each region.

The midlands region regional office has been fully established in Mullingar since July 2004. NEPS psychologists serving counties Westmeath and Longford are based in the midlands region regional office and the office is also the administrative headquarters for counties Laois and Offaly. Under the Government's programme of decentralisation the headquarters of NEPS will decentralise from Dublin to Athlone.