Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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448. To ask the Minister for Health his views regarding regulation of the psychotherapy profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18181/15]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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467. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding Government proposals to regulate the counselling and psychotherapy profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18364/15]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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475. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the counselling and psychotherapy profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18449/15]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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503. To ask the Minister for Health the progress, to date, in determining the course to be taken regarding regulation of the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist; his plans for further consultation; if said consultation process will be time-limited and, if so, when he expects to be able to proceed with registration through the Health and Social Care Professional Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18614/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 448, 467, 475 and 503 together.

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.

My predecessor, Minister James Reilly T.D, wrote to the The Health and Social Care Professionals Council last year seeking advice on the question of specifically designating counsellors and psychotherapists under the 2005 Act.

A number of issues require clarification and there are varying views among the professional bodies representing counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland. The main questions to be resolved include whether counselling and psychotherapy should be treated as one or two professions for the purposes of regulation, the title or titles of the profession(s) to be protected, and the minimum qualifications that would be required of applicants for registration. The readiness and compatibility of the professions for designation under the 2005 Act also need to be determined.

The Council's detailed report on the matter has been received in recent weeks and is being examined carefully in the Department with a view to deciding the next steps which, I envisage, will include a wider round of consultation involving the various professional bodies and other interested parties.