Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Currie for giving me the opportunity to update the House on this important matter. I acknowledge the enormous contribution made by psychologists in the healthcare system during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic and before that as well.

In February 2019, the HSE community operations unit convened a project team chaired by Dr. Cathal Morgan to consider the preparation of a workforce plan for psychological services in the HSE, including an examination of the current framework for training psychologists for the health service and the type and skill mix required for the future. The work of the project team has been informed by a thorough stakeholder consultation process. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the work of the project team was delayed.

The report of the national psychology project team, titled Establishment of a National Psychology Placement Office and Workforce Planning, was completed in January 2021. In line with its terms of reference, the project team report sets out proposals to establish a national psychology placement function within the HSE. The report outlines considerations for a workforce plan for psychological services in the HSE. A recommendation on the consideration of funding of counselling psychologists along the same lines as clinical psychologists was also included.

Currently, clinical psychologists in training are funded for 60% of course fees and are employed as trainee psychologists for the duration of their training. This is unlike any of the other health and social care professionals. A chapter of the report, titled Psychology Services into the Future, identifies a number of the key drivers that are likely to produce significant changes to the way and extent to which psychological services are delivered. It also notes the implications this will have on workforce planning and the future psychological workforce.

The projected global shortfall of healthcare workers by 2030 means consideration should be given to alternative and flexible approaches to how health services are delivered. The changing role of professions and greater fluidity in skill mix will require a greater alignment of skill sets to work tasks. This is critical in the context of community-based working through different modalities. While new technology is unlikely to impact on the demand for mental health professionals, its effects on service provision can be transformational. The psychological workforce will increasingly work in tiered arrangements and the workforce will require robust governance and supervision structures. Memorandums of agreement and programme boards in higher education institutes will need to align with innovations and change within the healthcare landscape.

While it is a matter for the HSE at operational level to determine the level of recruitment required across staff categories, given the level of workforce expansion required, it is likely that there will be additional posts available for professionally trained psychologists. Implementation of the report's recommendations and the creation of a national psychology placement office must take priority.

I take this opportunity to highlight that there has been a significant reduction of over 19% among under-18s waiting more than 12 months to be seen by primary care psychology staff. This follows an allocation of €4 million I secured last August to address such lists through targeted initiatives, enhanced capacity of mental health need and ease pressure on and reduce waiting lists for specialist mental health services. This will ensure that children and young people will get the support they need when they need it. The second key part was the announcement earlier this month of the establishment of the psychology assistant post on a permanent basis. This also marks a significant achievement in promoting enhanced access to vital primary care psychology supports, which I know was very much welcomed by the sector.