Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 390: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress which has been made in increasing the number of National Education Psychological Service psychologists available in the Limerick region. [21811/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

All primary and post primary schools in Limerick 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. 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 (Counties Limerick, Clare, Tipperary North Riding). I would stress that all schools not currently served by NEPS can avail of the SCPA.