Written answers

Tuesday, 29 March 2022

Photo of Kieran O'DonnellKieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

730. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the Regulation of Psychotherapy and Counselling under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. [16428/22]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (the Act) provides for the protection of the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training & competence through the statutory registration of health and social care professions designated under the Act.

As you are aware, regulations under SI No. 170 of 2018 were made by my predecessor in 2018. The effect of these regulations is to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Act and to establish one registration board for both professions. Members were appointed to the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board in February 2019 and they held their inaugural meeting in May 2019. The Registration Board has held 16 meetings since it was established.

Details of board members can be found on CORU's website at coru.ie/about-us/registration-boards/counsellors-and-psychotherapists-registration-board/.

The work of a registration board includes consideration of the titles to be protected and the minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners and the qualifications that will be required for future graduates. The work of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board is significantly more challenging than it is for registration boards for some of the more established professions owing to the different and complex pathways into these professions, the variety of titles used, and the variety and number of courses and course providers.

The work of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board is ongoing. Progress by the Board to date has included:

- the identification, verification and comprehensive assessment of legacy and historical qualifications to determine if they are appropriate for transitioning existing practitioners onto the respective register, and

- research on the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists internationally.

I hope that this information is of assistance to you.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.