Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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478. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the establishment of a regulation board of psychotherapy and counselling under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; and the planned date for the introduction of the board. [36359/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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 they consider that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met.

In accordance with the Act, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council has been consulted on the question of regulating counsellors and psychotherapists. Its detailed report on the matter is being examined carefully in my Department with a view to deciding the next steps before the end of the year. These steps will, I envisage, include a wider round of consultation involving the various professional bodies and other interested parties.