Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Each year NEPS staffing levels are evaluated and capacity to serve schools is established. Currently, due to vacancies, maternity leave and long-term sick leave it is not possible for all schools to have an assigned NEPS psychologist. Where a school temporarily does not have an assigned psychologist due to a vacancy, it continues to have access to a range of NEPS services, provided in different ways, including:

• The NEPS Advisory Support Line is available to the school. This line provides access for schools to support and advice from a Senior Educational Psychologist in NEPS via a designated phone line available from Monday to Friday. This is a new initiative and replaces any previous local arrangements that were in place to access NEPS advice and support.
• Support from a NEPS psychologist in the event of a Critical Incident.
• The NEPS’ National and Regional Support and Development service for school staff also continues to be available to schools. This National and Regional Support and Development 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.

In relation to the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), this scheme is provided by NEPS to assist in the delivery of a psychological service to schools. It is an interim measure intended to supplement the NEPS service and meet current urgent needs for psychological assessment of children and young people.

The fee paid to those on the SCPA panel has increased from €550 to €750. The Department continues to promote the panel in order to recruit additional members. There are 52 psychologists currently on the panel.

The 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 are now being appointed to NEPS. It is anticipated that a new psychologist will be appointed to the Cork office in the coming months.

In the interim, this school should engage with the NEPS Advisory Support Line on 01 865 0401, Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm.