Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that his Department is taking in order to address the shortage of educational psychologists in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51630/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is strongly committed to supporting the wellbeing of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health and education workforce, and support a range of public services, including educational psychology.

In this context, the Department is engaging on an ongoing basis with the Department of Health, the Department of Education and other relevant stakeholders with regard to how the further and higher education system can best support workforce planning for the delivery of essential public services.

The National Health and Social Care Professions Office in the HSE have advised my Department that the Psychology Project Team completed a report in 2021 which recommended the development of a workforce plan for psychology, including educational psychology. My Department understands that implementation of the recommendations in this report is currently being examined by the HSE including in light of overall resource requirements arising.

Progress in relation to workforce planning in this area by the Department of Health and the Department of Education will inform the Funding the Future reform process for higher education, a key focus of which, in collaboration with professional regulators, is on ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified individuals to enable the delivery of essential public services in areas such as health and education.