Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 April 2026
130. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason no NEPS psychologist has been assigned to a school (details supplied) for a number of years; the reason no SCPA assessments have been allocated to the school in the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31178/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach year, NEPS staffing levels are evaluated and capacity to serve schools is established. There is currently a nationwide shortage of educational psychologists which has resulted in vacancies. Due to this shortage, 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 including:
• The NEPS Advisory Support Line. 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.
• 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.
• Access, through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), to private educational psychologists on the SCPA panel for individual casework where a priority need is established.
In relation to the allocation of SCPA, some assessments were granted through SCPA to schools temporarily without an assigned psychologist at the start of the school year. Where a school does not have an assigned psychologist and is of the view that a child requires an educational assessment, the school should contact the NEPS Advisory Support Line. The senior psychologists who work on the NEPS advisory line can grant a sanction for a SCPA assessment to be carried out. These sanctions are issued on a case-by-case basis when the need is established. The senior psychologist will discuss each case with the school and will ask a number of questions in keeping with the NEPS consultation model of practice. It should be noted that a SCPA assessment may not be suitable for each case and the senior psychologist will work with the school and provide advice on how to proceed.
