420 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of persons employed in the psychological services to primary schools in Counties Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Longford; the number of children on the critical list awaiting a service in each of these counties; the schools to which this service applies; the number of children in need of this service; if the approval of resource teachers is dependent on psychological services being provided at primary schools; when further processing of services will occur in these counties; and the schools involved. [6980/99]

During the past year, the provision of psychological services by my Department has been enhanced by the recruitment of additional 15 psychologists to work in primary schools. Three of these psychologists have been assigned to schools in Counties Galway, Mayo and Sligo. A list of the schools served is part of this reply. My Department's psychological service is not yet available to primary schools in Counties Roscommon, Leitrim and Longford. Provision of a psychological service to primary schools in those counties is at present a matter for the relevant health boards.

My Department's psychological service does not keep waiting lists of named students in the schools that it serves. However, an important part of the psychologist's work is to assist principals and teachers to develop procedures for screening, identifying and prioritising those students who are most in need of help. In this way, the psychologist is able to estimate the numbers of students in each school who may need psychological intervention and consequently the amount of time that needs to be spent in each school.

The estimated level of need nationally for a psychological service was investigated by the planning group for the national educational psychological service and is recorded in its report, which I launched during September of last year. The planning group drew upon the report of the Special Educational Review Committee (1993) as well as on epidemiological studies carried out in other jurisdictions and on the experience of the existing psychological service. As much available evidence as possible was analysed by a technical working group set up by the planning group. The final estimate made in the report was that 11.2 per cent of the school population might expect to be referred at some stage to the psychological service.

The provision of resource teachers is part of my Department's response to the needs of mainstream schools, which are fully integrating children with special educational needs arising from disabilities. Documentary evidence of disability is required in each case. This would take the form of a report or reports from specialists. In certain cases, a psychological report may be appropriate. Any qualified psychologist may provide this, whether employed by my Department, by the relevant health board or by a voluntary agency. Applications for resource teachers have been granted to many primary schools where my Department does not yet have a psychological service.

I am well aware of the need for students, parents and teachers in all areas of the country to have ready access to the support of educational psychologists. The expansion of provision is one of my priorities as Minister. On Thursday, 11 February, I announced Government approval for the establishment this year of a national educational psychological service. Financial provision has now been made for the first two years of a five-year implementation phase.