Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she proposes to ensure the availability of adequate and ongoing psychological assessment for children at primary and second level throughout the country; the time-scale involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7120/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which she has examined the need for psychological assessments for children attending the various schools throughout the country; when she expects to meet this requirement in full and in line with the best European standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7124/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 269 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.

In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS encourages a staged assessment process, whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention, in consultation with their assigned NEPS psychologist. Only if there is a failure to make reasonable progress in spite of the school's best efforts, will a child be referred for individual psychological assessment. This system allows the psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually. It also ensures that children are not referred unnecessarily for psychological intervention.

During 2006/07 the DES through NEPS funded some 4,260 psychological assessments under the SCPA. In this period NEPS psychologists undertook referrals in respect of over 5,700 named pupils and almost 2,800 cases under the Reasonable Accommodation for Certificate Examinations (RACE) scheme on behalf of the State Examinations Commission. In addition it is estimated that NEPS psychologists gave consultations, advice and assistance to teachers and school authorities in respect of an additional 5,000 unnamed pupils.

Since May 2007 the number of psychologists employed within the NEPS service has increased from 128 to 138 and during 2008 this complement will increase to 169. In this regard, following a national recruitment process put in place in late 2007 by the Public Appointments Service, interviews are currently being held to form regional panels from which appointments to priority regions will be made. As I have previously stated, and in line with Government commitments under the T2016 Agreement, it is further my intention to increase NEPS psychologist personnel to 200 during 2009.

My Department, and this Government, is committed to the maintenance of a robust psychological service based on international practice.