Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 282: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress that has been made in filling posts for educational psychologists in the mid-west region; the number currently in place; the number of vacancies; the number specifically assigned to schools in Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43003/06]

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

The Deputy will be aware that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through NEPS or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Consequently Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.

In respect of the Mid-West Region four additional psychologists were appointed in September 2006 bringing the complement of Psychologists serving schools to eight (five sited in the Limerick and three in Ennis). A further psychologist post for the region is currently being recruited, from the panel established in this regard, by the Public Appointments Service. Six of the psychologists, currently serving in the region, are assigned to varying extents to schools in Limerick City and County.

I can inform the Deputy that my Department's 2007 estimates provision in relation to NEPS shows an increase of 17% which will allow some further expansion in the number of psychologists next year. The actual number of extra staff will be determined shortly.