James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his Department will provide for a necessary up to date psychological assessment for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin with dyslexia prior to transition from primary to secondary school in September 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43421/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that NEPS, in common with many other psychological services and best international practice, 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.

Students approaching the end of their primary education and their ensuing transition to Post-Primary constitute a significant focus in the interaction between school authorities and the NEPS psychologist.

I understand, from the Principal of the school, that the child detailed in the Deputy's question will not transfer to post-primary until September 2010. I can assure the Deputy that the appropriate response will be delivered by both the school and the NEPS service, at the appropriate time having regard to the child's particular needs.