Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the progress on expanding the incredible years programme to all DEIS primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26131/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department has committed, as part of the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019, to the roll-out of the Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management Programme to all DEIS schools. In order to support this development and as part of the Action Plan for Education 2017 I can inform the Deputy that NEPS psychologist number will be increased by 10 staff.  In this regard a process is currently underway in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to recruit these psychologists which, it is envisaged, will be in place for the commencement of the 2017/18 academic year.

Furthermore planning is currently in train for the commencement of roll out of the Incredible Years programme, involving an initial 25 courses with 500 teachers from DEIS schools and commencing in the autumn. To this end NEP staff regionally are actively involved with counterparts in the Teacher Education Centres nationwide in arranging venues for these training events, in the scheduling and planning of programme delivery and will, in due course, be issuing invitations to schools in relation to teacher attendance at the events. The programme will continue through 2018 and 2019.

I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.