A motion tabled for a recent Dáil debate on the Government’s commitment to increase staffing in the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has been welcomed by IMPACT. The union’s NEPS branch has called for the immediate recruitment of at least 94 educational psychologists. It’s also seeking a Government commitment to recruit 17 more to meet increased serviced over the coming years.
The Fianna Fáil private members’ motion, which was tabled on 8th March, called on the Government to act on its commitment to increase the number of psychologists by 65, and to ensure that no child assessed for special needs would be without adequate resources.
Fianna Fáil education spokesman Thomas Byrne also called on education minister Richard Bruton to introduce amending legislation to direct schools to provide special classes where necessary. Sinn Féin education spokeswoman Carol Nolan said 619 schools lacked access to a NEPS psychologist for an assessment.
IMPACT national secretary Andy Pike said the debate was welcome as it acknowledged the enormous amount of work – undertaken by the union’s NEPS branch over the last two years – to press for additional recruitment.
“The union’s efforts led directly to a commitment in the Programme for Government, and we have remained active in holding the Government to account, while also seeking cross party support for this vital service. This needs to remain a live issue until those commitments are realised, so it is appropriate and welcome to see this being debated in the Dáil,” he said.
A 2015 IMPACT report, The Way Forward: A School Psychological Service for ALL Children and Young People, outlined the need for increased investment in the service. It found that Ireland ranked 26th globally on pupil-to-psychologist ratios, when one in four Irish pupils had special educational needs, and up to one in five were experiencing emotional or behavioural disorders.
