Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of NEPS practitioners employed by county; the number of vacancies for NEPS posts by county; the number of approved posts which are not filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49604/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments. (SCPA).

The Deputy may also be aware that under Budget 2017 the approved number of NEPS psychologist posts was increased (from Sept 2017) from 173 to 184 whole-time equivalents (w.t.e.). Budget 2018 further increased NEPS numbers with 10 new posts being santioned from September 2018 bring total approved numbers to 194 w.t.e..

NEPS recruits its psychologist from Regional panels of suitably qualified personnel organised by the Public Appointments Service following a national recruitment competition. These panels have been recently replenished following a competition which was completed in early September.

Currently there are 173 w.t.e. psychologist staff serving in NEPS with 12 vacancies (7 of whom have occurred since July) and nine new posts due from the 2018 Budgetary allocation. PAS are currently processing candidates from the regional panel to fulfill this immediate demand for 21 posts. Current information in relation to this process shows that four candidates cleared the PAS process, have been referred to my Department’s H.R. Unit and have agreed start dates for early in the new year.A further 12 candidates are currently in PAS clearance and it is envisaged that they will shortly be referred on to my Department for contract negotiations. It is intended to have these staff in place as soon as possible in the new year. PAS has indicated that it will continue to seek to recruit psychologists from the panel to fill the remaining vacancies.

In relation to the Deputy’s question I can clarify that NEPS psychologists are not, per se, assigned by county but work within a regional and local office structure serving the needs of schools in their immediate vicinity. I attach therefore for the Deputy’s information a breakdown of NEPS staff (whole-time equivalent) by Region and Office location along with the sites of the current vacancies and new posts described above.

Number of NEPS psychologists by Region and Office 27^thNov. 2018