Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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421. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the allocation of funding for the National Educational Psychological Service in an area that can be provided (details supplied); the plans to provide this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8647/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides a school-based psychological service to all recognised primary and post-primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, and the academic, social and emotional development of all learners.

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;

- 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.

This overall approach allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent individual cases and, through supporting school staff, to benefit many more children than could be seen individually.

Where a school is temporarily without an assigned psychologist, e.g. due to a vacancy, the school continues to have a service delivered by the local NEPS team. 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.

There are currently in the region of 225 whole-time equivalent NEPS educational psychologists employed across the 8 NEPS regions, delivering a psychological service to our schools, having grown from a base of 173 posts in 2014. Laois, Carlow and Offaly are within the South East (Midlands) region.

As part of Budget 2023, provision for an additional 54 educational psychologists was announced to strengthen the NEPS service overall, and in particular to provide strengthened services for special schools and special classes.

I understand that a recruitment competition is ongoing with the Public Appointments Service, with interviews commencing this month.