Skip to main content
PALS - Psychological Assessments and Learning Solutions

When We're Open

We don't operate a waiting list. When a service is open, your assessment begins — you are not joining a queue. Appointment availability is outside of school holiday periods (Halloween, Christmas, Easter and Summer).
Educational assessments — open all year, with appointments currently available within a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. Comprehensive assessments — open 1 October to Easter. We stop taking new Comprehensive referrals around Easter so that every assessment already underway is completed and reported before we close for the summer, and we reopen on 1 October, once children have been back at school long enough for teachers to complete the forms we need. DARE attainment testing — open 1 October to March (following the DARE application cycle). You will need a CAO number to refer (you get one when you apply to the CAO; applications for 2027 open on 5 November 2026), and we cannot book testing without one. The DARE deadline is usually 15 March, so testing needs to be completed in good time before it; please check the current year's deadline on the DARE website.
Book an enquiry call

Educational Assessments

Educational assessments are for learning difficulties only (such as intellectual disabilities or specific difficulties like dyslexia or dyscalculia). They do not cover emotional, behavioural or social concerns such as Autism or ADHD. Appointments are currently available within a week, outside of school holiday periods, and Saturday and Sunday appointments are available. A parent or guardian completes our online referral form, or the individual themselves where the person being assessed is an adult. Once the form is in, we email you an invoice. When it is paid, we send you a link to choose your clinic appointment. If you would like to speak with us first, an enquiry call can be booked.

Comprehensive Psychological Assessments

Comprehensive assessments explore a child's overall educational, emotional, behavioural and social profile, including learning difficulties (such as dyslexia) as well as ADHD, Autism and anxiety. They take place over up to three phases. New referrals are accepted from 1 October to Easter each year. Phase 1 (screening) is online only and starts as soon as you refer: once the form is in, we email you an invoice for the €200 Phase 1 fee, and when it is paid you and your child's teacher complete online questionnaires. Saturday and Sunday appointments are available for the clinic phases. Phase 2 is a psychologist appointment, usually within 4 weeks of completing Phase 1, following a verbal consultation on the Phase 1 results. Phase 3 (a Speech and Language Therapist ADOS-2 appointment) is required only for the multi-disciplinary autism assessment and the appointment is usually within three to four weeks of payment. A draft report is offered by email within 4 weeks of your last appointment before being finalised.

DARE Attainment Testing

DARE attainment testing is for sixth-year secondary school students who are DARE applicants, have received their CAO numbers, and where the school is unable to provide these tests — either where a dyslexia diagnosis has already been made, or for updated dyscalculia (numeracy) scores. Appointments are available within 4 weeks, excluding school holiday periods, and Saturday and Sunday appointments can be arranged.