Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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433. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a child will be seen (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8745/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, individual casework, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students.

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.

In relation to the pupil to which the Deputy refers, a referral for NEPS involvement was received on the 26th of January from the pupil's school, and this referral will be progressed by the assigned psychologist in conjunction with the school.