Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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820. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills on the number of National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, transition consultations for children who are transitioning out of primary school into secondary school that were conducted in 2022. [2283/23]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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821. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way that children can access NEPS transition consultations to assist them transitioning out of primary school into secondary school. [2284/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 820 and 821 together.

NEPS provides educational psychological support to all recognised 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 where there is such need.

The transition from primary to post-primary can be a stressful event for some pupils and some pupils may need additional support.  Schools may use the NEPS case work service to support the transition of some pupils.  As this work is part of casework separate data is not kept on consultation on transitions.