Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of post-primary schools in Tipperary North covered by the National Educational Psychological Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19855/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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All primary and post primary schools in Tipperary North Riding have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) that is administered by NEPS and full details of which are available on my Department's website. According to the latest figures, one school out of fifteen post-primary schools in Tipperary North Riding currently has a dedicated service from NEPS.

The number of psychologists in NEPS has increased from 43 on establishment to 122 at present. The Public Appointments Service recently concluded a new recruitment competition for the appointment of Educational Psychologists to NEPS and Regional panels have been established to allow my Department give greater priority in filling vacancies to areas with the greatest need. My Department is currently in the process of recruiting a further 9 psychologists, 4 of whom are a priority for the Mid-West Region. I hope that this process, when complete, will increase the number of schools in Tipperary North served directly by NEPS, though again I stress that all schools not currently served by NEPS can avail of the private scheme.