Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

As we made clear on Committee Stage, the provision of counselling and psychotherapy services in the public health service has increased in recent years, in line with the significant growth in the provision of such services in the private sector. At the request of the Department of Health and Children, the former group of health board CEOs formed a working group to examine the role of psychotherapy in the health service and assess future requirements. The working group's report, which will contain advice about how to make progress in respect of many issues, including the development of psychotherapy and counselling services on a national basis, is being finalised by the Health Service Executive. When the report has been completed, an action plan will need to put in place if we are to make progress with our consideration of the role of psychotherapy and counselling in the health service. The action plan will have to include a further exploration of issues relating to the development of an appropriate model of service.

The outcome of the work being proposed by the HSE will form an integral part of the formal process that will be required under this Bill. That process will involve determining whether statutory registration is warranted and appropriate in line with section 4, which relates to the designation of further professions. It is not appropriate, in that context, to specify at this stage that certain professions should be under the aegis of the proposed health and social care professionals council. Similarly, it would not be not appropriate to specify in the Bill the timeframe for the inclusion of such professions. Therefore, I do not propose to accept amendment No. 3.