Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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371. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding is available from her Department to parents who have been advised their child is in need of an educational assessment but are not a priority for assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8074/23]

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

All schools have access to a service from NEPS which includes:

- Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident

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

- Ongoing access to advice and support for schools from a psychologist and

- A Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment.

The role of NEPS has evolved and changed over the years and the service now provides a broad range of supports to 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. NEPS support 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. This system allows psychologists to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually.

It is important to note that under the Special Education Teacher model pupils do not have to have a psychological assessment, or a diagnosis of a disability, in order to access supports in the school. Where a parent/guardian has a concern about their child’s progress in school, he/she should requests a meeting with the Principal to discuss the needs, the supports the school have put in place in place and if appropriate to consider a consultation with the NEPS psychologist to identify the next steps.