Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:194. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider expanding NEPS to provide psychological services in all schools. [70741/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 11 December 2025
Ceisteanna (194)
Freagraí scríofa
I thank the Deputy for his question on the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS). I would like to take this opportunity to outline the work of NEPS. All schools have access to:
• General support and advice from a NEPS psychologist, either through the school’s assigned psychologist or through the NEPS Advisory Support Line. The NEPS Advisory Support 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.
• 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.
The total number of psychologists working in NEPS at present is 234 whole time equivalents.
With regard to staffing levels more generally, 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 recently concluded a recruitment campaign for Educational Psychologists and successful candidates are currently being appointed to NEPS.