John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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308. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of NEPs recruited since May 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24326/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools involving direct access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, access to support and development work to build school capacity to support students, direct support in the event of a critical incident and access to individual pupil casework input via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments. (SCPA).

In 2016 the sanctioned number of psychologists allowed to NEPS was 173 whole-time equivalent posts (w.t.e.). The provisions of Budget 2017 increased NEPS Psychologist numbers by 11 posts to 184 w.t.e.

As of 1st May 2016 the complement of NEPS psychologists stood at 164.1 w.t.e with some 9 posts vacant. In Autumn of 2016 a recruitment competition was put in place by my Department in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to replenish regional recruitment panels to serve the ongoing needs of NEPS in this regard. Currently NEPS staffing numbers stand at 181.5 w.t.e with three vacancies existing which are currently being pursued with PAS.

I can inform the Deputy that since 1st May 2016 some 29 new recruits have been engaged in NEPS realising a net increase of some 16.5 w.t.e posts when ongoing staffing losses (resignations retirements) are taken into account.

The Deputy may be aware that provision was made within Budget 2018 for the employment of an additional 10 psychologist staff within NEPS with effect in the coming academic year. The recruitment of these staff has already commenced utilising the regional panels referred to above. Arrangements are in hand with the Public Appointments Service to shortly put in place a new recruitment competition to refresh these panels sufficient to this complete this process and to service the ongoing recruitment needs of the NEPS into the future.

This will bring the overall complement of NEPS Psychologists to some 194 whole-time equivalents, the highest level since the Service’s inception allowing for a broadening and deepening of the service provided to schools and underpinning my Department’s and this Government’s commitment to supporting an effective educational psychological service for our schools.