Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a psychologist will be appointed by the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, to a school (details supplied); and if she can provide an update to the school. [19411/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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NEPS is a school-based service, which provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools.

While the school referred to by the Deputy currently does not have an assigned psychologist, due to a vacancy, a psychologist from the local NEPS team undertakes the role of advisory psychologist to respond to queries that the school may have. The schools continue to have access to support and development work delivered by the local team, critical incident response, advisory support and pupil casework via the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).

In relation to the recruitment of educational psychologists the Department has been examining the matter of how NEPS can increase the numbers of suitably qualified staff to strengthen the response 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 commenced a recruitment campaign for Educational Psychologists at the end of 2023. Interviews have taken place and panels now established. The Department is actively engaging with PAS to maximise the numbers of psychologists being recruited.