Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that response. He correctly mentioned the Psychological Society of Ireland, a fantastic organisation in setting out good standards and best practice. I have worked with it regarding a charity called Social Anxiety Ireland. If it is setting out the academic and professional requirements, it will be done with best practice and standards at its core. I am glad to hear that the project team has been reconvened and that a review of the current funding model to ensure the appropriate supply of future psychologist workforce is envisaged by the project team. I emphasise that this is a small measure that will go a long way.

In the North, they have increased the number of places in training and we need to look to that. Overall, we have to ensure there is a pipeline of qualified, trained, exceptional psychologists, which I know we have, making it through to the front line to help us.