This article is from page 4 of the 2006-02-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
NUMEROUS Clare schools are not covered by the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, resulting in unnecessary financial pressures for schools and parents.
Figures released this week show that as many as 50 per cent of primary schools are without access to specialised assessment of children with special learning needs.
INTO Executive Representative for Clare, Declan Kelleher, told The Clare People that NEPS staffing levels in the mid-west area, covering Clare, Limerick and north Tipperary, were very low, relative to the rest of the country.
“This means a lot of students have to go privately for assessment. Often the school shares the cost for such as assessment with the parents,” the Corofin teacher and union spokesperson said.
This cost is covered by the Government where NEPS is available.
In February 2005, 1,522 primary schools nationally were not covered by psychological service or NEPS.
This February, 1,655 primary schools were outside NEPS, an increase of 133 schools in 12 months.
Fine Gael Spokesperson on Education and Science, Olwyn Enright TD, said, “Between February 2005 and February 2006, the number of primary schools covered by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has fallen in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Roscommon and Tipperary. Today, 50 per cent of primary schools now have no access to the services provided by NEPS.”
Teachers in Clare have confirmed that the figures are equally poor here, although an actual figure was not available.
“When NEPS was established seven years ago, it was envisaged that up to 200 psychologists would be needed, 180 working with NEPS and the remainder working elsewhere in the education system.
“However, the current number of psychologists remains far below the target level, and with only 121 psychologists now employed, it is easy to see why so many primary schools still have no NEPS cover,” said Deputy Enright.
“Children who need psychological evaluation should have access to an educational psychologist so that their particular needs can be identified and met within the school system. Schools are under pressure now as they continue to wait for a national roll-out of a proper NEPS service. The track record of this Government on this issue is evident and unless Minister Hanafin opens her purse strings and provides proper funding, children with special educational needs will continue to suffer.”