Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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145. To ask the Minister for Health if his designation of two distinct professions, that of counsellor and psychotherapist, in his proposals to regulate counsellors and psychotherapists under the Health and Social Care Act 2005 will introduce minimum standards of education and training; if the regulations will designate psychotherapy as a higher standard than counselling; and if the regulations will require psychotherapists to be qualified to a minimum of masters degree level. [44306/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is my intention to have the draft regulations designating the two distinct professions of counsellor and psychotherapist submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas for their approval in late October or early November, 2017. These regulations will also establish the registration board and provide for an increase in the number of positions on Council.

These regulations will not introduce minimum standards of education and training for the professions. These regulations are the first in a suite of regulations that will have to be made over a period of time. Subject to the approval by the Houses of these regulations, the next step will be the appointment of the 13 members of the registration board following the submission of suitable candidates for my consideration by the Public Appointments Service. I hope that the registration board will be in a position early next year to begin the task of drafting the various bye-laws to allow it to establish its registers.

Once appointed, the registration board will be requested to advise the Council and me as Minister, where appropriate under the provisions of the Health and Care Professionals Act, 2005, on a range of issues pertaining to the regulation of the professions including minimum standards of education and training, titles to be protected and minimum grandfathering qualifications for existing practitioners.