John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 486: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of National Educational Psychological Service psychologists employed in County Mayo; the number that has been deemed appropriate for the County; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33601/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the 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.

I can inform the Deputy that NEPS service to Co. Mayo schools is provided, in the main, through its office in Castlebar. In the last academic year four NEPS psychologists were accommodated therein and coverage was provided to 71% of Mayo schools representing some 85% of the counties' pupils.

I can also inform the Deputy that an additional psychologist is to be employed in the Castlebar office before the end of 2008 which result in a further increase in NEPS coverage of schools in the county. A sixth posting for Castlebar, bringing the office up to its full planned complement, is under consideration. The timing of such an appointment will be decided in the context of the finalisation of my Department's 2009 Estimates allocation.