James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that places for trainee clinical psychology for 2009 are not affected by the recruitment embargo and that they are exempt from the embargo to ensure a continuous supply of clinical psychologists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25731/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The immediate objective is to maintain the number of training places at current capacity. The HSE HR Circular 015/2009 (Moratorium on Recruitment and Promotions in the Public Services — Revised Employment Control Framework for the Health Services) states that the moratorium on recruitment does not apply to clinical psychology grades. In 2009, nationally, 32 trainees will graduate from Clinical Doctoral programmes and 31 new trainees will commence training. It is planned to further develop training opportunities, to meet legislative and service delivery requirements, to 156 training places nationally by 2012.

The Health Service Executive is aware of the increasing requirement for the provision of clinical psychological services. Cognisant of and working within the restrictions of the current employment control framework for the health services, the HSE is committed to ensuring the availability of Clinical Psychologists within the health sector. It is also committed to maintaining the number of postgraduate training places available nationally for clinical psychology training. I understand this currently stands at 107 places, distributed across four National Universities — University of Limerick, University College Galway, Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin.