Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
326. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of WTE psychologists employed by national educational psychological services as of 29 June 2026; if she will provide the same figures for the corresponding period in 2023, in tabular form. [50786/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra367. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of psychologists currently employed by NEPS; the number of sanctioned psychologist posts in NEPS; the estimated full-year cost of running NEPS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51348/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 367 together.
I would like to take this opportunity to outline the work of NEPS.
Through 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.
- Support from a NEPS psychologist in the event of a Critical Incident.
- National and Regional Support and Development service for school staff.
- Access for individual casework where a priority need is established to either a NEPS psychologist or an educational psychologist through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA).
NEPS does not operate waiting lists. In common with other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS operates on a consultative model of service. The psychologists may work directly with a child or young person, known as Direct Casework and this includes assessment, or the psychologist may work through teachers or teachers/parents to provide a psychological service for a child/young person, known as Indirect Casework. Assessments are only one aspect of the work of NEPS, and an educational assessment may not be required in all cases.
NEPS encourages schools to support children and young people using the Continuum of Support, whereby school staff use a problem-solving approach, including school screening (assessment) and evidence-based intervention, for children and young people experiencing difficulties in the school context. The response to intervention is monitored and recorded in the Student Support File. The teachers, parents and child are involved in this process. Under this model, a diagnosis is not required for a child or young person to access supports that can be implemented at school level in mainstream classes, such as special education teaching support and SNA support.
If a school has concerns that a child or young person is not making reasonable progress following evidence informed support and intervention, the school may prioritise the involvement of NEPS to support the identification of need process.
With regard to staffing, I can advise that as of the 1st of July 2026 there are 235 (WTE) and 222.2 (WTE) for the same period in 2023.
With regard to finance, I can advise that NEPS has a non-pay budget allocation of €10.5 million for 2026.
