Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average time taken by the National Educational Psychological Service Agency to assess children under the age of six years suspected of having special educational needs or behavioural difficulties; and the average time taken to assess children over the age of six years suspected of having special educational needs or behavioural difficulties. [19161/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) operates an early intervention continuum of assessment in schools for children with the broad range of special educational needs, including behavioural difficulties. The continuum of assessment allows for the identification of pupils with special educational needs, their nature and severity by harnessing the experience of class teachers and support teachers, in consultation with parents, and with the support of the psychologist.

This allows for a response to be put in place at the earliest possible juncture for children before their difficulties can become intractable. Assessment of needs at this stage of the continuum involves information gathering, testing and observation by the various school personnel involved and support from the NEPS psychologist, as required.

Where the pupil does not make adequate progress following the interventions, or where the nature of the child's special educational needs are significant, severe and complex, the school may agree with the psychologist that a psycho-educational assessment be conducted to identify the specific nature of the needs and the appropriate response necessary. Students, so identified, are scheduled for assessment within the school year or, usually, the school term in question.