David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1717: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of people currently awaiting assessments to be carried out with reference to the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments under the National Educational Psychological Service of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2740/07]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1719: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the procedure schools should undertake regarding the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments under the National Educational Psychological Service Agency where schools are allowed a number of free psychological assessments per annum, in cases were the number of children requiring psychological assessments exceeds the number of psychological assessments allowed under the scheme; the number of cases where this has occurred; her plans to review this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2742/07]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1717 and 1719 together.

As the deputy will be aware all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). 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.

Under the SCPA an allocation of assessments is made annually to schools commensurate with 2% of its pupil enrolment and it is in the first instance the responsibility of the school Principal to identify and prioritise pupils for assessment under the process. No waiting lists are therefore available to NEPS in this regard.

It has always been the policy of NEPS, within the normal boundaries of finance and process, to endeavour to respond positively and flexibly to extraordinary need and circumstance as presented by school authorities on occasion and I would suggest Principals who have urgent needs for pupil assessment in excess of their allocation should discuss the matter with the local NEPS Regional Director.

It does mention however that the introduction of the General Allocation Model for primary schools last year, supported by the provision of over 600 extra resource teachers, means that children with high-incidence special needs now longer have to undergo an individual assessment before they can get access to extra support. Notwithstanding this benefit level of assessments allowed to each school has not changed allowing school Principals extra flexibility in the range of pupils that can be assessed.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1718: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the services that the National Educational Psychological Service makes available to schools and students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2741/07]

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

The National Educational Psychological Service supports the personal, social and educational development of all children in Primary and Post-Primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice in education having particular regard to children with special educational needs.

All primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessment either directly from the National Educational Psychological Service of my Department or through the Scheme for Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA). In addition to psychological assessment NEPS provides assistance to all schools and school communities that experience critical incidents regardless of whether or not they have a NEPS psychologist assigned to them, it is worthy of mention that some 100 such incidents took place and were responded to by NEPS in this regard in 2005/06.

Also in relation to all schools, NEPS processes applications for Reasonable Accommodation in Certificate Examinations and responds to queries in relation to individual children from other sections of my Department and from specialist agencies. NEPS also provides a service to children with visual impairment irrespective of the school which they attend.

Question No. 1719 answered with Question No. 1717.