Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 186: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the parents of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who were never contacted by the National Educational Psychological Service Agency and were not aware of its function, and consequently are still awaiting information on the way this person can continue their education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26002/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer the Deputy to my predecessor's response to his parliamentary question of 9th February, 2010 (Reference number 6827/10) in direct connection with this matter. As was explained on this occasion, my Department's National Educational Psychological Service 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 student be referred for individual psychological assessment. It is the responsibility of the school Principal in the first instance to identify and prioritise pupils for assessment under the process.

Furthermore, students who manifest very special or urgent need in school and who are brought to the attention of the assigned NEPS psychologist by the school principal will usually be prioritised for NEPS involvement as soon as possible. This is done on the basis of specific signed consent from the student's parents or guardian to allow the NEPS psychologist to engage in the situation.

It was confirmed in the previous response referred to above that the student in question had not been brought to the attention of the NEPS psychologist and advised that the matter of his educational assessment should be raised in the first instance with the school principal.

The parents of the student in question contacted my Department's NEPS service on 26th May last requesting clarification on the current position in this regard. No formal request for involvement by NEPS has yet been received from the school and a response to this effect has issued recently in this regard.