490 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in views of the scarcity of personnel and the potential cost to the parents involved, she would consider changing the requirement to having the two year examination by psychologists for some special needs children increased to a three year cycle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36526/06]

I can inform the Deputy that no such requirement exists for the assessment of special needs children by psychologists from within my Department. In certain circumstances a pupil with special needs may be re-assessed on an ongoing, rather than cyclical, basis to process additional teaching resources commensurate with that individual's particular needs.