Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 509: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of psychologists who have been appointed to the National Educational Psychological Service since June 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9626/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that 30 psychologists have been appointed to the National Educational Psychological Service since 1st June 2008.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of psychologists who have resigned from the National Educational Psychological Service each year, for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9627/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy that the following are the number of psychologists who have resigned from NEPS in the past five years:

2005 — 6

2006 — 2

2007 — 2

2008 — 3

2009 — 0

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of psychologists available on the existing panel of qualified personnel created by the Public Appointments Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9628/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has confirmed, with the Public Appointments Service, that there are currently 24 individuals on the recruitment panel established for the National Educational Psychological Service.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the level of funding that has been set aside in 2009 for the recruitment of additional psychologists in the National Educational Psychological Service; the number of additional psychologists he envisages will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9629/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware I was pleased to announce in the context of Budget 2009 an increase in the funding, in the order of €4.75m, available to the National Educational Psychological Service with which it is envisaged that up to 50 further psychologists can be appointed. I can confirm that this additional funding allocation has been made to NEPS allocation for the current year.

Recruitment of these psychologists has begun from the existing panel of 24 qualified personnel. It is intended that upon its depletion that a new panel will be established, based on a competition to be organised by the Public Appointments Service, to fulfil the required expansion target in this regard.