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

Question 47: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 104 of 21 May 2008, the number of additional educational psychologists recruited to implement the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; the number of educational psychologists employed by his Department each year since 2004 to date in 2008 respectively; the conclusions of his Department's review of the scheme for commissioning private assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26310/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 and paid for by NEPS.

I can inform the Deputy that the number of educational psychologists employed by my Department for each year from 2004 to 2008 is as follows: 2004 — 128, 2005 — 123, 2006 — 127, 2007 — 138. The figure currently stands at 137.

In the current year under the terms of the T 2016 agreement my Department is committed to the expansion of psychologist numbers in the NEPS service to 169 and again in 2009 to 200. In this connection and following a national recruitment competition organised by the Public Appointments Service, a panel of suitable candidates has been formed. Currently some 33 panellists have been offered specific appointments within the NEPS regional structure, some 30 have accepted the post offered and of these 13 have passed through the requisite Garda vetting process and are finalising arrangements with my Department's Personnel Section. This process will continue until the available posts are filled.

It is envisaged in this regard that the new recruits will be in place by the commencement of the new academic year in the order of the commitment as outlined. Additionally it is envisaged that the undertaking in respect of 2009, a further 31 posts, panellists will be processed through this system to commence employment in the service early in the new calendar year.

Further expansion or reorganisation of the service, including the SCPA, is being considered in the wider context of my Department's response to the full implementation of the EPSEN Act. In this regard my Department is now at an advanced stage in finalising proposals to facilitate implementation of the remaining sections of the Act, including the provisions in respect of assessment and individual education plans (IEPs). The time taken to finalise proposals reflects the complexities involved, the need for consultation across the wide range of people and sectors involved, the need to align with the requirements of the Disability Act, 2005 and define how the Health Service Executive (HSE) and NCSE will work together under both acts.

My Department's priority is to ensure that the necessary training, guidance and supports are in place to facilitate the commencement of the remaining sections of the Act. It must also be acknowledged that, during this necessary period of preparation and planning for the roll-out of the EPSEN Act, my Department continues to expand capacity and services for students with special educational needs across the schools network through the work of the National Council for Special Education.