John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the percentage of primary schools that have a dedicated national educational psychological service in each of the cities Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. [24227/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the percentage of post-primary schools that have a dedicated national educational psychological service in each of the cities Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. [24228/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.

The information sought by the Deputy is in the table. All primary and post primary schools 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.