Written answers
Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Department of Education and Skills
Psychological Assessments
Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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685. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which her Department is ensuring that the scheme for the commissioning of psychological assessments (SCPA) is sufficiently resourced to meet the growing demand for psychological assessments in schools; the current number of psychologists on the SCPA panel nationally and the regional breakdown available for North County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58197/25]
Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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686. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of any recent or planned increases in the number of NEPS psychologists or SCPA panel members to support this work, nationally and in North County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58198/25]
Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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687. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way her Department is addressing the ongoing demand for psychological assessments in schools, particularly in areas where NEPS psychologists are not currently assigned; whether the current SCPA panel and funding levels are sufficient to ensure equitable access to assessment for all students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58199/25]
Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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688. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of educational psychologists currently employed by NEPS; the number of additional appointments planned to meet increasing demand in schools, nationally and in North County Dublin; and the way in which her Department is ensuring that the SCPA scheme continues to function; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58200/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 685, 686, 687 and 688 together.
I thank the Deputy for her questions regarding my department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
I would like to take this opportunity to outline the work of my department in this area more broadly and the role of 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 the NEPS Advisory Support Line for schools that are temporarily without an assigned psychologist. This dedicated phone provides access for schools to support and advice from NEPS.
On the matter of recruitment, my department is making every effort to recruit additional educational psychologists. Since January 2023, NEPS has supported bursaries for Trainee Educational Psychologists who are enrolled in the University College Dublin Professional Doctorate in Educational Psychology and Mary Immaculate College Limerick’s Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology. This has also been extended to students enrolled in the new professional doctorate in educational psychology in Maynooth University. Those in receipt of a bursary commit to joining NEPS upon graduation. There are over 80 Trainee Educational Psychologists in receipt of a bursary who are expected to join NEPS upon graduation.
The Public Appointments Service undertook a recruitment campaign for Educational Psychologists recently and successful candidates will shortly be appointed.
On the deputy’s queries regarding the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Under this scheme schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS and the cost is covered by the Department. Access to SCPA is afforded to schools where a dedicated NEPS psychologist is temporarily not available due to vacancies arising from retirement or resignation or circumstances such as maternity leave, etc. My Department maintains a panel of private practitioners under the scheme. Private practitioners must satisfy a number of requirements to be included on the SCPA panel. The payment for assessments was increased last year from €500 to €750. There are currently 52 psychologists on the panel with others at the garda vetting stage who we expect will join the panel shortly.
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