Written answers
Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Department of Education and Skills
Special Educational Needs
Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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460. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a child with autism (details supplied) will obtain an urgent NEPS report;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55093/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Ward for his question regarding my department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and the particular circumstances as detailed by the deputy.
In framing my answer, it may be helpful to briefly outline the work of NEPS.
Through NEPS, all schools have access to:
- a NEPS psychologist for general support and advice.
- support from a NEPS psychologist in the event of a Critical Incident.
- National and Regional Support and Development service for school staff, which is advertised through the Education Support Centres of Ireland and covers areas such as trauma informed practice, cluster group support for post-primary special education teachers and special class teachers, training for Student Support Teams and supporting reluctant school attendance/school avoidance behaviour.
- access to either a NEPS psychologist or a SCPA psychologist for individual pupil casework where a priority need is established. SCPA – the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments - is operated through the use of a panel of psychologists who must meet qualification criteria set by the Department. It is an interim measure intended to supplement the NEPS service and meet current urgent needs for psychological assessment of children and young people.
If a school has concerns that a child or young person is not making reasonable progress following evidence informed support and intervention, the school may prioritise the involvement of NEPS to support the identification of need process.
In relation to school transitions, it is important to note that the Department’s Circular 23/2025 for schools specifies that no new professional reports or recommendations will be required when a child/young person transitions from a special class of the same designation in another school.
The full Circular is available here:
I have made enquiries with the local NEPS office in relation to the details supplied by the Deputy and, at present, the school has not requested NEPS involvement for the child in question. Where a parent has a concern regarding their child’s progress, they should, in the first instance, discuss with the school principal or the child's teacher. As a school based service, requests for NEPS involvement must be made by the school principal or other designated staff member.
Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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461. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will urgently review a case where a school-led above SERC review was conducted on 22 May 2025 (details supplied) in respect of an autism specific class; the reason after almost five months, no decision has been communicated to the school regarding its application for additional SNA support; if she will ensure that the findings of that review, along with the observations of both the SENO and the NCSE autism advisor are acted upon without further delay given the escalating safety and care needs of the pupils and staff in the class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55113/25]
Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised.
As the matter raised relates to a NCSE process. I will arrange for your query to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
Deputies are also welcome to raise such matters with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at: oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie
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