Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of DEIS schools nationally that are currently off service with the National Educational Psychological Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5582/23]

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of DEIS schools in County Wexford that are currently off service with the National Educational Psychological Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5583/23]

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be assigned a National Educational Psychological Service psychologist for the 2023-24 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5584/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 to 187, inclusive, together.

My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all recognised primary and post-primary schools.

The NEPS service provides access for all schools to:

- Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident

- A Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).

- A school staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools and

- Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.

NEPS, in common with many other psychological services and best international practice, has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem solving and solution oriented consultative approach to maximise positive outcomes for these pupils. NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they need to at this stage in the process. Where reasonable progress is not made, following a school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, a psychologist will become involved with an individual child for intensive intervention or assessment.  This system allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually.

Where a school temporarily is without an assigned psychologist, due to a vacancy, the school continues to have a service delivered by the local NEPS team as outlined above.  This service comprises: 

- Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident

- A Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).

- A school staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools and

- Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.

The school referred to by the Deputy continues to have access to a service from the local NEPS Office.  I understand that a recruitment competition is ongoing with the Public Appointments Service, with interviews commencing this month.  It is expected that vacancies in NEPS will be filled from this recruitment campaign.