Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has received representations from a group (details supplied) seeking statutory professional recognition for creative arts therapists; the consideration she is giving to this request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11632/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The current professional status of creative arts therapists is the subject of ongoing discussion between my Department and the Health Service Executive and is yet to be fully finalised. A business case regarding the establishment of a grade of creative arts therapist was submitted by the HSE to my Department last year. The business case provided has been examined and officials from my Department have written to the national human resources directorate of the HSE requesting further clarification of some aspects of the business case submitted. A response to this request is awaited. I am aware that my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, met a delegation from the Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists on two occasions last year to discuss this specific issue. The position I have outlined was conveyed to the association at that time.