Written answers

Tuesday, 11 October 2005

Department of Health and Children

Health Service Staff

9:00 pm

Photo of John PerryJohn Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will consider a submission (details supplied) on the Health and Social Care Professionals Bill and address the concerns raised; her plans to amend the Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27490/05]

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 157: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views regarding correspondence (details supplied); the action she will take to resolve the concerns expressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27744/05]

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the submission from the Psychological Society of Ireland on the Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004. [27830/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 144, 157 and 173 together.

The Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004 provides for the establishment of a system of statutory registration for certain health and social care professionals, including psychologists, whether they are employed in the public service, the private health sector or are self employed. The qualifications required of registrants will be a matter for the relevant registration board under section 37 of the Bill and each board must approve qualifications as attesting to the standard of proficiency required for registration.

Section 91 of the Bill contains transitional arrangements for the registration of existing practitioners which will apply for a period of two years from the establishment of a register. These arrangements include the provision that practitioners who hold a stated qualification and who have been in practice at any time during a period of five years before the register was established shall be granted registration. A practitioner must also satisfy the registration board that he or she is a fit and proper person to engage in the practice of that profession.

The stated qualification for psychologists under the grandparenting provisions set out in the Bill is a recognised university degree or diploma obtained with first or second class honours in which psychology was taken as a major subject and honours obtained in that subject.

I should explain that this does not reflect the current qualifications required of persons recruited as psychologists within the public health service as, since 2002, psychologists recruited to the public health service have been required to hold a postgraduate qualification. The qualification set out in the Bill for psychologists is instead designed to take proper account of those practitioners previously recruited to the public health service and those who are practising elsewhere who may not hold a postgraduate qualification.

I have given very careful consideration to the proposals put forward by the Psychological Society of Ireland in regard to qualifications held by applicants applying for registration under section 91. These proposals involve discriminating between psychologists working in the public service and those working elsewhere for the purposes of the transitional arrangements for the registration of existing practitioners. The legal advice available to me is that this would be inadvisable.

I believe that the current provisions contained in the Bill for the grandparenting of practising psychologists are appropriate in the context of a transitional period and having regard to requirements in the public health service prior to 2002. I am also conscious that, in terms of the protection of the public, any registrant who does not meet the standard of proficiency and competence expected of registered professionals will be subject to the complaints, inquiries and disciplinary procedures set out in the Bill.

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