Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools where the National Educational Psychological Service has been withdrawn in recent weeks; if she will reverse this decision by NEPS as she did earlier in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30830/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that no schools which received the NEPS service in 2006/07 have had that service withdrawn.

The Deputy will be aware that during 2007 the number of NEPS psychologists has increased from a total of 128 in April to a current level of 134. In all 9 psychologists have been recruited in this period but due to the normal effect of resignations and retirement the net increase is 6.

Six psychologists have been recruited since September and these undergo an induction and work shadowing process before being assigned a full quota of schools. The full effect of this intake which will not therefore become apparent in coverage terms for a number of weeks/months. In addition my Department has recently contracted a further 5 psychologists with 3 due to take up duty later in November and one in December this year. A further psychologist will take up duty in early January 2008.

The majority of these new recruits have been sited in the three NEPS Dublin regions and will during the current academic year be reflected in additional schools being afforded coverage by NEPS psychologists in the short and medium term. NEPS would intend to assess the effect of this expansion in January 2008 at the end of the first term of the current academic year.