Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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577. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the new counselling and primary care service initiated in July 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49693/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Counselling in Primary Care (CIPC) initiative is a national service provided under the governance framework of the National Counselling Service (NCS) of the HSE. Short term counselling (up to eight sessions) is provided for adults with non-complex psychological problems aged 18 and over and who hold a valid medical card. Referral into the service is by the person's GP or other member of the Primary Care Team.

The establishment of the CIPC initiative is aimed at providing a more immediate response to wider community for persons in need of counselling and advice. If deemed necessary, persons presenting with more serious crisis issues can be referred on to the appropriate HSE community mental health services.

Most recent figures available from 9 of the 10 CIPC services indicate that between the period January to end September 2014 there were 10,601 referrals to the service, 31,232 sessions were offered with 1,683 individuals in counselling at end September 2014 and approximately 285 days of counselling being offered every day across 143 locations.