Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

462. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 445 of 16 December 2014, if he will clarify the regulation of counselling services; his views on the services provided outside CIPC provision; where Aspen fits in with the consolidation of CIPC services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2765/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Psychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, under section 4(2), designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met.

The previous Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, wrote to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council in May of last year advising it of his intention, in the public interest, to designate by regulation the profession or professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Act. The Act provides that the Minister for Health is obliged to consult with the Council in the first instance concerning a proposed designation. The Act also requires that interested persons, organisations and other bodies be given an opportunity to make representations to the Minister concerning a proposed designation. The Council has been asked to advise on a number of issues concerning the proposed designation and has been requested to take into consideration the report of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on the academic standards necessary for the accreditation of courses in Counselling and Psychotherapy. This is an essential element as it would inform, for the purpose of registration, the assessment by the registration board, when established, of the qualifications of those currently in practice.

This is the first stage in the consultation process under the Act and the Minister hopes to receive the Council's report at an early date. He will then proceed to the next stage which will involve a much wider consultation when he has fully considered the Council's report. While a number of issues remain to be clarified including decisions on whether one or two professions are to be regulated, on the title or titles of the profession or professions, and on the minimum qualifications to be required of applicants for registration, the Minister hopes to be in a position to progress the question of regulating counsellors and psychotherapists this year.

I note the many excellent counselling services currently provided across the country by the both the HSE and voluntary sector. Counselling is provided across the health service including primary care, social care and within mental health. This type of service can be provided by a range of trained health professionals and delivered to meet a clinical need at either primary or secondary care level.

However, the provision of a quality counselling service across both primary and secondary care needs to be developed further, as resources permit. The Government, in keeping with its commitment in the Programme for Government to increase access to counselling and psychotherapy, has provided funding totalling €7.5 million to develop the Counselling in Primary Care (CIPC) service, which works closely with the HSE Mental Health Service, under whose aegis this funding is provided. CIPC is one of a range of initiatives taken by the HSE to build the capacity of primary care to respond to mental health needs appropriate to primary care. I was pleased to note that the HSE in its National Service Plan 2015 has committed to "Reviewing and improving access to psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic interventions in conjunction with the Primary Care Division" as a first step to further consolidate and direct counselling services generally.

In relation to the specific question relating to Aspen, as this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.