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 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 schools and
• Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.

The budget allocation for NEPS in 2022 was €27.6m and in 2023 was €34.0m.

The final budget figure for 2024 will be available after the Revised Estimate process. However, there has been no reduction to the NEPS overall funding allocation from 2023 to 2024. In addition to the NEPS budget I was also pleased to announce that my Department has secured funding in Budget 2024 to continue the counselling in primary school pilot for an additional year, until June 2025.