Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when schools in an area (details supplied) will have access to services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27459/24]

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

I refer to your recent parliamentary question in relation to the provision of a psychological services to schools in the Achill area.

My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides psychological support to all primary, post-primary, and special schools.

NEPS 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.

Officials in my Department have been examining the matter of how NEPS can continue to recruit adequate numbers of suitably qualified staff and continue to respond to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country.

Since January 2023, 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 Psychology for Trainee Educational Psychologists. Those in receipt of a bursary commit to joining NEPS upon graduation. As of April 2024 there are 60 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 Public Appointments Service (PAS) commenced a recruitment campaign for Educational Psychologists for NEPS at the end of last 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.