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

My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary and special 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 schoolsand
• Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.

I can inform the Deputy that the number of educational psychologists currently employed in NEPS stands is 222 across the eight NEPS regions. Since the start of this school year, the service has expanded to all special schools, which is hugely important given the increased support needed for children in these settings.

There are currently 56 vacancies across the regions as follows:

North East	8
Dublin Mid Leinster	10
Dublin	8
Mid Munster	7
South East	9
North West, North Midlands	7
West	3
South West	4
TOTAL	56

The vacancies include those arising from promotions, retirements, resignations and also are reflective of new posts for which I secured funding in Budget 2023.

The Public Appointments Service commenced a recruitment campaign for Educational Psychologists for NEPS earlier this year. Interviews have taken place, and panels of psychologists have been created. My Department is actively engaging with PAS to maximise the numbers of psychologists being recruited. To date this year nine new psychologists have been recruited, with a further 15 psychologists with start dates agreed. The recruitment process is continuing and it is intended that further psychologists will be recruited from this panel.

Since January of this year, NEPS is supporting bursaries for students who are enrolled in the University College Dublin (UCD) Professional Doctorate in Educational Psychology and the Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Limerick’s Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychologyfor Trainee Educational Psychologists. Those in receipt of a bursary commit to joining NEPS upon graduation. As of September 2023 there are 62 Trainee Educational Psychologists in receipt of a bursary from NEPS who are expected will fill a vacancy in NEPS upon graduation, over the next three years.

The Department is also engaging at a Cross-Departmental Level on workforce planning for psychologists in general in Ireland. This work is being coordinated by the Department of Health.