Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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342. To ask the Minister for Health the regulations and qualifications a person must hold in order to practice as a psychologist in private practice [17532/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Psychologists working in the public health sector must have minimum qualifications set by the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. There are currently no such statutory restrictions on psychologists working in the private sector.

The profession of psychologist is one of the 14 professions that have been designated for regulation under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. The Act is being implemented on a phased basis as registration boards and their registers are being established.

The Psychologists Registration Board will be established by way of statutory instrument this year to regulate all psychologists practising in Ireland in the public and private sectors. Expressions of interest in being appointed to the 13-member board will be sought through the Public Appointments service in the near future.

CORU, which is the umbrella name for the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, its disciplinary committees and the professions' registration boards, is responsible, under the Act, for protecting the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence amongst the designated professions.

The structure of the system of statutory regulation comprises registration boards for the professions, a committee structure to deal with disciplinary matters, and a Health and Social Care Professionals Council with overall responsibility for the regulatory system.  Regulation is primarily by way of registration and protection of title. Only registrants can use the protected title(s) of the profession and must comply with the professions code of professional conduct and ethics.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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343. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of concerns held by parents regarding persons, who may not hold appropriate qualifications, providing diagnoses of autism and other disorders in children and adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17533/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Psychologists working in the public health sector must have minimum qualifications set by the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. While there are currently no such statutory restrictions on psychologists working in the private sector all psychologists and other professionals operating in Ireland are subject to consumer and criminal legislation.

The Psychologists Registration Board will be established by way of statutory instrument this year to regulate all psychologists practising in Ireland in the public and private sectors. Expressions of interest in being appointed to the 13-member board will be sought through the Public Appointments service in the near future.

CORU, which is the umbrella name for the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, its disciplinary committees and the professions' registration boards, is responsible, under the Act, for protecting the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence amongst the designated professions.

The structure of the system of statutory regulation comprises registration boards for the professions, a committee structure to deal with disciplinary matters, and a Health and Social Care Professionals Council with overall responsibility for the regulatory system. Regulation is primarily by way of registration and protection of title. Only registrants can use the protected title(s) of the profession and must comply with the professions code of professional conduct and ethics.

As the particular issue raised by the Deputy is an operational service matter, I have arranged for the question to be 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.