Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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1274. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a position of assistant psychologist on the HSE's pay scale, given that over 50% of early career psychologists are employed in a voluntary capacity, completely undermining the quality of service to patients and undermining the profession. [25550/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE employs professionally trained psychologists - including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists and educational psychologists - in a range of roles across the health service.

The Department has received a business case proposal, submitted by the HSE, in relation to the possible introduction of paid Assistant Psychologists (AP), who will be Psychology graduates employed on a two-year fixed term contract; based on its evaluation of a recent local pilot AP project. This business case is currently being considered by my Department and engagement between the HSE and the Department is ongoing in relation to these proposals.

Any decisions regarding a future role for Assistant Psychologists, in the public health system, would need to be taken in the context of the national integrated strategic framework for health workforce planning, and will require approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.