Liam Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason psychological services from the national educational psychological service will not provide a service to pupils in a school (details supplied) in County Kildare, who are in autistic spectrum disorder classes in their school; and if she will arrange to have an educational assessment carried out in view of the situation which exists in this school. [34941/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Since the establishment of my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) in 1999, the number of psychologists in the NEPS has increased from 43 to 127 at present. Seven psychologists have been recruited in recent months.

All children allocated places in units for children on the Autism Spectrum were most likely assessed by HSE prior to entry to these units. Support for children with Autism is a complex matter and inter disciplinary collaboration is a fundamental principle.

Traditionally, health services, including psychological services, have been provided by HSE on a continuing basis. I understand that children in this school are from a number of counties corresponding to Local Health Office areas (equivalent to the previously designated community care areas).

NEPS's role in relation to the school so far has been limited, however in the past school year a psychologist from NEPS has provided support to teachers in the autism units with regard to the management of behaviour and the psychologist also supported teachers in acquainting them with a specific teacher assessment instrument.