Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 496: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the review which she has carried out in respect of the barriers to accessing and remaining in education for children and adults with mental health problems, the provision within school systems and the SPHE programme for mental health promotion and the role of schools as early warning systems including the provision of psychological and other services for children in the education system; and if she will set it out in a plan of action in these areas. [6168/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Since September 2003 Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is taught to all pupils in primary schools. Its aim is to foster personal development, health and well being of children, to help them create and maintain supportive relationships, and develop the skills and attitudes for responsible citizenship.

From the beginning of their primary schooling children learn, in an age-appropriate way, how to identify, explore and express feelings and emotions, how to communicate with others, to resolve conflict and to respect difference, the importance of caring for one's body, treating oneself and others with dignity and respect, and how to identify people, places and situations that may threaten personal safety.

SPHE has been compulsory in the junior cycle of post-primary schools since September 2003. The modules at junior cycle deal specifically with belonging and integrating, handling conflict constructively, bullying, dealing with peer pressure, coping with stress, emotional health and well being, influences on decision-making, and relationships and sexuality education. In third year, an awareness of the range of agencies who can help students in difficulty is promoted, as well as the skills of knowing when and how to seek help. SPHE is designed for implementation in the context of a caring whole-school approach which is supported by the pastoral care structures in schools.

All post-primary schools provide a guidance and counselling service for their students and they receive ex-quota hours from the Department for this provision. The service includes the provision of individual guidance and counselling for students either at critical stages in their education or at times of personal crisis.

Schools also use Mental Health Matters, a resource pack on mental health for 14 to 18 year olds developed by Mental Health Ireland on an optional basis as a module in the Transition Year Programme, an element of the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme, a component of the SPHE programme or an element of other subjects such as Religion or Home Economics.

The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) operating within my Department provides a range of services both direct and indirect which support the personal, social and educational development of all children in primary and post-primary schools. NEPS provides access to psychological assessment either directly from the National Educational Psychological Service of my Department or through the Scheme for Commissioning of Psychological Assessments. The Service provides for a staged assessment process, whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention, in consultation with their assigned NEPS psychologist. A child is referred for individual psychological assessment only where this approach does not result in reasonable progress.

For those who have left school early, my Department offers a second chance programme of integrated general education, vocational training and work experience through Youthreach and Senior Traveller Training Centres, while FÁS offers a similar programme through a network of Community Training Workshops. These services all offer guidance, counselling and psychological services to students.

There is no psychological service for adults availing of adult education, but the educational adult guidance services offered by the VECs and the guidance and pastoral care services in third level colleges operate referral services as appropriate to other agencies.