Dept of Education admits lack of funds for psychologists

The Department of Education and Science has today revealed that it cannot afford to hire any more psychologists this year.

The trend looks set to follow through to next year if budgetary constraints continue.

There is currently a two year waiting list for children with emotional, educational or behavioural problems and it seems schools often have to pay for psychologists out of their own funds.

John Carr, of the INTO, has said that the Government has an obligation to meet children's special educational needs and stressed the need for every school to have the resources to diagnose such problems.