Education Bodies and Services
If psychological assessment of a pupil is required, it is carried out by the National Educational Psychological Service agency (NEPS). NEPS was established in 1999 to develop and provide an educational psychological service to primary and secondary schools.
Private assessments
Primary schools that do not have access to NEPS may commission private assessments under a scheme administered by NEPS. Each school may commission a number of assessments broadly one assessment for every 50 students. Under this scheme, individual psychological assessments may only be administered by psychologists whose names appear on a panel compiled by NEPS.
For more information, contact:
National Educational Psychological Service
24-27 North Frederick Street
Dublin 1
Tel: 01-889 2700
Email: neps@neps.gov.ie
The National Council for Special Education is an independent statutory body. It has taken over a number of functions from the Department of Education and Science in relation to children with disabilities with special educational needs. The Council has local offices and it plays a key role in the development and delivery of services for people with special needs through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO). Since January 2005, applications for resources in relation to children with disabilities who have special educational needs, are now made to the Council through the SENO. Such resources could include:
- applications for resource teaching hours
- applications of special needs assistant (SNA) hours
- applications for school transport for children with disabilities and special educational needs
- applications for other resources eg assistive technology and special equipment.
The SENO will also be responsible for identifying appropriate educational settings for individual children with special educational needs.
Applications for assistive technology should be submitted to the SENO who will forward them to the Department of Education and Science with a recommendation regarding the application.
For more information, contact:
National Council for Special Education
1-2 Mill Street
Trim
Co Meath
Tel: 046-948 6400
Website: www.ncse.ie
The SESS was established in September 2003. The service co-ordinates, develops and delivers a range of professional development initiatives and support structures for school personnel working with students with special educational needs in a variety of educational settings. These settings include mainstream primary and post-primary schools, special schools and special classes attached to mainstream schools.
For more information, contact:
Special Education Support Service
Cork Education Support Centre
The Rectory
Western Road
Cork
Tel: 1850 200 0884
Fax: 021 425 5647
Email: info@sess.ie
Website: www.sess.ie
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment was established in 1987 to advise the Minister for Education and Science on matters relating to the school curriculum. It has been involved since 1999 in writing Draft Guidelines for Teachers of Students with General Learning Disabilities. These draft Guidelines have been made available to all schools since late 2002. At present, following a period of review, consultation and evaluation of the Draft Guidelines, the official version of the Guidelines is being compiled and is to be distributed in 2005.
For more information, contact:
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
24 Merrion Square
Dublin 2
Tel: 01-661 7177
Fax: 01-661 7180
Email: info@ncca.ie
Website: www.ncca.ie
The National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) has special needs staff that can offer advice and information on the many types of technologies designed to support students with special education needs. The NCTE has support groups for teachers, organised via the ICT advisor in the local education centres, enabling teachers to collaborate and share their experiences and expertise. Support groups sessions can involve software/hardware demonstrations, creating teacher and student resources, tips for integrating ICT into the curriculum, etc.
For more information, contact:
National Council for Technology in Education
Dublin City University
Dublin 9
Tel: 01-700 8200
Fax: 01-700 8210
Email: info@ncte.ie
Website: www.ncte.ie
This service provides advice to teachers, parents, therapists etc regarding technology for students with special educational needs around the country. The service is funded by the department of education and based in the Central Remedial Clinic. The service can be contacted by phone, mail or email.
For more information, contact:
Ann Jackson
National Technology and Special Needs Advisor
Central Remedial Clinic
Clontarf
Dublin 3
Tel: 01-854 2545
Email: ajackson@crc.ie
Some non-profit service providers offer an advisory service and/or assessment services in special needs technology, often related to a specific disability. There are also some private individuals offering a professional service in technology needs assessment, choice and application in the area. These include educational psychologists in private practice.
