Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of the Department provides a school-based psychological service to all primary and post primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, academic, social and emotional development of all learners. School staff have an important role in identifying students’ need and are required to plan for this need in school. The Continuum of Support (www.gov.ie/en/collection/dca316-special-education-needs-a-continuum-of-support/) is the framework used by schools to identify and respond to needs. This framework recognises that special educational needs occur along a continuum, ranging from mild to severe, and from transient to long term, and that children and young people require different levels of support depending on their identified educational needs, rather than based on diagnosis of disability. Using this framework helps to ensure that interventions are incremental, moving from class-based interventions to more intensive and individualised support, and that they are informed by careful monitoring of progress. School-based problem-solving process involving assessment, intervention and review is recorded in the school Student Support File. This process begins prior to any request for formal involvement of the NEPS psychologist. If the school continues to have concerns that a student is not making reasonable progress, following evidence-informed support and intervention, the school may request the involvement of the NEPS psychologist. I have made enquiries in relation to the child referred to by the Deputy and I understand the school has not discussed this child with their assigned psychologist.

For the purpose of clarification, the assessment of need (AON) process is a Health Service Executive (HSE) process which is designed to identify children and young people who may have a disability, or who have a disability, and may require further clinical supports from the HSE. The AON process commences when the parent makes an application for their child to the HSE. The HSE is responsible for the identification of health needs.