Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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200. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider extending the counselling in primary care service to non-medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17158/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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In 2012, €5m was made available from the special allocation of €35m for mental health to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care, specifically for people with mental health problems who are eligible under the General Medical Services Scheme. A further additional €2.5m was provided in 2013 for the continued roll-out of this service from the special allocation for mental health.

The Counselling in Primary Care Service (CIPC), launched in July 2013, is a new national service which will improve access for people to counselling in a primary care setting. At full capacity, CIPC will be able to deliver short term counselling to approx. 13,000 people over a full year. Medical card holders aged 18 and over who are referred by their GP or other member of the primary care team can have up to 8 counselling sessions to address mild to moderate psychological difficulties.

I have no plans to extend this Service to include people who are not eligible under the General Medical Services Scheme.