Written answers

Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Department of Education and Skills

National Educational Psychological Service

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of educational psychologists working in NEPS to date. [39860/25]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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NEPS provides educational psychological support to all primary, post-primary, and special schools.

NEPS provides all schools with:

  • 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),
  • the School Staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools,
  • ongoing access to advice and support for schools, and
  • an advisory service to schools where a psychologist is not available due to a vacancy.
The number of educational psychologists currently employed in NEPS stands at 234 whole time equivalents across six regions.

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing an additional ten educational psychologists up to a maximum of 50 educational psychologists. [39861/25]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework where there is need via a NEPS psychologist.

The estimated average full year salary costs to recruit:

  • 10 additional psychologists for the National Educational Psychological Service is €998,617.50
  • 20 additional psychologists for the National Educational Psychological Service is €1,997,235
  • 30 additional psychologists for the National Educational Psychological Service is €2,995,852
  • 40 additional psychologists for the National Educational Psychological Service is €3,994,470
  • 50 additional psychologists for the National Educational Psychological Service is €4,993,087
These figures include employer PRSI costs. This figure does not include non-pay costs associated with the employment of an educational psychologist.

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