Minister McEntee welcomes new Professional Doctorate Programme in Educational Psychology developed by Maynooth University

Minister for Education Helen McEntee, has welcomed the announcement that Maynooth University is to offer a new three-year Professional Doctorate programme in Educational Psychology from September 2025, to support a substantial increase in the number of qualified educational psychologists available to the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).

The programme, which will be supported by the Department of Education through a bursary scheme, supervised placements and teaching input, marks a significant step forward on the Government’s commitment to double the number of college places for educational psychologists as outlined in the Programme for Government 2025.

An increase in the supply of educational psychologists available to NEPS will help to ensure the ongoing delivery of a high-quality educational psychology service to children, young people and teachers in their school communities across Ireland. 

Minister for Education Helen McEntee said: “It is vital that all children and young people can feel safe and supported to thrive during their time in our schools. NEPS psychologists play a really important role in supporting our school communities, often in their most difficult hours.

“As Minister, it is imperative to me that we deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to double the number of college places for educational psychologists so we ensure we can have an ample supply of qualified psychologists available to resource our NEPS teams. I am delighted therefore to be announcing that, from September 2025, Maynooth University will offer this new three-year professional doctorate programme.

“I congratulate Maynooth University on the establishment of the programme and look forward to a strong partnership with them.”

Professor Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University, said she welcomed the opportunity for Maynooth to contribute to developing the profession of educational psychology.

“Our Departments of Education and Psychology, and the Assisting Living and Learning (ALL) Institute, have come together to offer a new and dynamic Professional Doctorate in Educational Psychology, supported by the Department of Education/National Educational Psychological Service.   Continuing Maynooth's proud tradition of promoting social inclusion this will be a central theme of the doctorate, along with a particular emphasis on trauma informed services, the use of digital technologies for developmental assessment, mental health and dynamic assessment. I am confident that this programme will produce not only excellent practitioners, but also outstanding research and significant contributions to policy, within Ireland and internationally."

 

Fáiltíonn an tAire McEntee roimh Chlár nua Dochtúireachta Gairmiúla sa tSíceolaíocht Oideachais arna fhorbairt ag Ollscoil Mhá Nuad.

Mar thoradh ar an gClár Nua beidh méadú suntasach ar líon na síceolaithe oideachais cáilithe atá ar fáil do SNSO

 

Tá fáilte curtha ag an Aire Oideachais Helen McEntee roimh an bhfógra go bhfuil Ollscoil Mhá Nuad chun clár nua Dochtúireachta Gairmiúla trí bliana sa tSíceolaíocht Oideachais a thairiscint ó mhí Mheán Fómhair 2025, chun tacú le méadú suntasach ar líon na síceolaithe oideachais cáilithe atá ar fáil don tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Síceolaíochta Oideachais (SNSO). 

Is céim shuntasach chun cinn é an clár, a mbeidh tacaíocht á fáil aige ón Roinn Oideachais trí scéim sparánachta, socrúcháin mhaoirsithe agus ionchur teagaisc, i dtaca le gealltanas an Rialtais líon na n-áiteanna do shíceolaithe oideachais i gcoláistí a dhúbailt mar a leagtar amach i gClár an Rialtais 2025. 

Cabhróidh an méadú ar an soláthar síceolaithe oideachais atá ar fáil do SNSO le soláthar leanúnach seirbhíse síceolaíochta oideachais ar ardchaighdeán a chinntiú do leanaí, do dhaoine óga agus do mhúinteoirí ina bpobail scoile ar fud na hÉireann. 

Dúirt an tAire Oideachais Helen McEntee: “Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbraithfeadh gach leanbh agus duine óg go bhfuil siad sábháilte agus go bhfuiltear ag tacú leo le bheith rathúil le linn a gcuid ama inár scoileanna. Tá ról fíorthábhachtach ag síceolaithe SNSO maidir le tacú lenár bpobail scoile, go minic sna huaireanta is deacra atá acu.

“Mar Aire, tá sé ríthábhachtach domsa go gcomhlíonfaimid na gealltanas a tugadh i gClár an Rialtais líon na n-áiteanna do shíceolaithe oideachais i gcoláistí a dhúbailt lena chinntiú go mbeidh soláthar fairsing de shíceolaithe cáilithe againn chun acmhainní a chur ar fáil dár bhfoirne SNSO.  Mar sin, tá an-áthas orm a fhógairt, ó mhí Mheán Fómhair 2025 ar aghaidh, go mbeidh an clár nua dochtúireachta gairmiúla trí bliana seo á thairiscint ag Ollscoil Mhá Nuad. 

“Tréaslaím le hOllscoil Mhá Nuad as an gclár a bhunú agus táim ag tnúth le comhpháirtíocht láidir leo.”

Dúirt an tOllamh Eeva Leinonen, Uachtarán Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, gur chuir sí fáilte roimh an deis atá ag Má Nuad cur le forbairt ghairm na síceolaíochta oideachais. 

“Tháinig ár Ranna Oideachais agus Síceolaíochta, agus an Institiúid um Maireachtáil agus Foghlaim Chuidithe (ALL) le chéile chun Dochtúireacht Ghairmiúil nua agus dhinimiciúil sa tSíceolaíocht Oideachais a thairiscint, le tacaíocht ón Roinn Oideachais/ón tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Síceolaíochta Oideachais. Ag leanúint leis an traidisiún bródúil atá ag Má Nuad maidir le cuimsiú sóisialta a chur chun cinn, beidh an ghné sin mar théama lárnach sa dochtúireacht, mar aon le béim ar leith ar sheirbhísí atá bunaithe ar thráma, úsáid teicneolaíochtaí digiteacha le haghaidh measúnú forbartha, measúnú meabhairshláinte agus measúnú dinimiciúil.  Táim muiníneach go soláthróidh an clár seo ní hamháin cleachtóirí den scoth, ach freisin taighde den scoth agus rannchuidiú suntasach le beartas, laistigh d’Éirinn agus go hidirnáisiúnta.”