Ms Lisa Molloy:

The Senator asked about the availability of free counselling and the IACP's view on the matter. IACP believes that ultimately, counselling and psychotherapy services should be accessible to all. In my opening statement, I mentioned one thing that could be considered in the interim but we are not there yet. First, we need to sort out primary care and address the waiting lists for current services through counselling in primary care, CIPC. As of the end of April 2017, there were 2,530 clients waiting for counselling nationally, of whom 727 or 29% were waiting less than one month, 1,183 clients or 47% were waiting between one and three months, 489 clients or 15%, were waiting between three and six months and 131 people or 5%, were waiting more than six months. That is the focus at present but ultimately, the IACP's view is that supports should be provided for access to all for services. That is where the proposal comes for support to access via the tax relief and the PRSI system.