Needy students ‘not accessing’ State services

STUDENTS from the most deprived sections in Irish society have an unacceptable lack of access to State psychological services, Department of Education inspectors have warned.

In evaluations of two Dublin youth encounter projects, attended by boys and girls aged from 11 to 16 who suffer the most extreme educational and social disadvantage, difficulties accessing other State services were also highlighted.

St Laurence O’Toole’s special school in North Strand and Henrietta Street School work mostly on students’ basic literacy and numeracy, with some going on to sit a number of subjects in the Junior Certificate.