Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have met representatives of the Psychological Society of Ireland.

Sláintecare reform supports the implementation of Sharing the Vision 2020-2030 under the enhancing community care workstream. The need to build a more accountable and transparent health service is a focus of Sláintecare. It is also a key objective of the new Sharing the Vision policy in the context of mental health service delivery.

There has been an unprecedented investment in recruitment across the health service, including for health and social care professionals, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This has included an increase in capacity of primary care psychology services recently through the introduction of two initiatives, as previously mooted. When I took up my post a year and a half ago I was concerned that approximately 10,000 under-18s were waiting for psychology supports. I learned that 5,000 of them had waited in excess of 12 months. Last September, I secured €4 million and we ran a programme for four months under which each community healthcare organisation, CHO, had to see what it could do. Some hired locums, some provided for overtime and others outsourced. We managed to have 19% of those on the waiting list seen, which is a good proportion. However, 81% remain on lists. I will roll over the initiative again for the next four months. The Minister has spoken about a targeted approach to waiting lists and we have made a submission on a long-term approach.

Earlier this month, there was a second announcement on the permanent establishment of a psychology assistant grade. The establishment of these positions on a permanent basis marks a significant achievement in promoting enhanced access to vital primary care psychology supports. I look forward to the scheme being implemented as it will make a significant change. I thank the Senator for her interest.