Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to 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 need via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).

Historically, a small number of Education Training Board (ETB) schools in the Dublin area have been supported by a psychological service provided by the ETB. I understand that the student to which the Deputy refers attends such a school.

I have asked officials in my Department to refer this matter to the ETB in question, to allow the ETB to follow up with the school directly.