Written answers

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Department of Education and Skills

National Educational Psychological Service

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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938. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason National Education Psychological Service psychologists cannot assess students in school environments when schools are reopened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15660/21]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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941. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if psychological assessments are being undertaken for primary students since schools reopened; and if so, the number by county and week since 1 March 2021. [15663/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 938 and 941 together.

Covid-19 has had a major impact on our daily lives and we have all had to adjust and adapt in the face of significant challenges in the course of 2020.  From the outset of this pandemic the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has continued to deliver a psychological service to schools within the context of public health advice. In addition, NEPS has remained proactive in the development of advice for schools, parents and pupils to support the wellbeing of students and the transition back into school.  As part of a package of measures to support the reopening of our schools the provision of an additional seventeen psychologist posts to NEPS was announced bringing overall sanctioned numbers to 221 whole time equivalent psychologist posts. 

Guidelines were issued to psychologists and to schools to clarify procedures for in-school work during the course of this academic year to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all members of the school communities and NEPS staff.

Now that our schools have reopened once again, NEPS psychologists have resumed an increased focus on both consultation and casework in schools with particular attention to the needs of individual students.  Psychologists have been asked to provide a blended approach to the provision of casework to schools, working both remotely, if appropriate, using secure on-line platforms, and in-school, depending on school protocols/plans and the nature of need of the child/young person. This approach recognises that some aspects of casework will require the psychologist to work in the school, while other aspects of the work may be done remotely in order to minimise risk and maximise safety. 

Information on the number of assessments by county and week since 1 March 2021 is not currently available in the format requested, i.e. by county.  A new IT system is currently being rolled out in NEPS which will more easily facilitate access to data such as this in the future.  I can confirm to the Deputy that since March 1st this year NEPS psychologists have been actively involved with 1497 individual cases across the entire country.

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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939. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of National Educational Psychological Service psychologists in full-time employment by county as of March 2021 (details supplied). [15661/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the Deputy’s request for information on NEPS psychologists assigned by county, I wish to advise that psychologists work within a regional and local office structure serving the needs of schools in their immediate vicinity. I have attached details of the eight regions and the counties covered by each region.

I have also included for the Deputy information on a breakdown of NEPS whole-time equivalent figures by NEPS Region along with the sites of the current maternity leave vacancies. While the assigned psychologist is on maternity leave, schools continue to have access to critical incident support, regional support and development and advisory support from NEPS and pupil casework service via the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).

NEPS Psychologists

NEPS Regions Whole Time Equivalent
North West/North Midlands Region 19
Western Region 22
South West Region 23
Mid-Munster Region 25
South East/South Midlands Region 28
Dublin Mid-Leinster Region 35
Dublin Region 35
North East Region 18
NEPS PSYCHOLOGISTS MATERNITY LEAVE
NEPS Regions Numbers of NEPS Psychologists currently on maternity leave March 2021
North West/North Midlands Region 0
Western Region 0
South West Region 4
Mid-Munster Region 1
South East/South Midlands Region 6
Dublin Mid-Leinster Region 2
Dublin Region 2
North East Region 2
NEPS has eight regions with a number of offices in each region.
NEPS Regions Counties Served
North West/North Midlands Region Donegal, Sligo Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath.
Western Region

Mayo, Roscommon, Galway.

South West Region Clare, Limerick, Kerry, North Tipperary
Mid-Munster Region Cork, South Tipperary.
South East/South Midlands Region Laois, Offaly, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford.
Dublin Mid-Leinster Region Kildare, Wicklow, Dublin

South East, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin South West, Dublin West.
Dublin Region Dublin South City, Dublin

North Central, North West

Dublin, North County Dublin.

North East Region Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Meath.

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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940. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of psychological assessments under the National Educational Psychological Service that were conducted in schools in County Tipperary in 2020. [15662/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by my officials that the data which the Deputy is seeking is not currently accessible in the format requested, i.e. by county.  This information, however, can be extracted and compiled, and it will be forwarded to the Deputy in the coming days. NEPS is currently in the process of rolling our a  new IT system which will better facilitate access to data such as this in the future.

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