Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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82. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects the CORU Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board to open for applications; the length of time the transitional period to allow existing practitioners to register will last; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16784/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As you will be aware, the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 provides for the protection of the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professions designated under the Act. The professions of counsellor and psychotherapist were designated for regulation by my predecessor in accordance with the Act and will be regulated by CORU.

The Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board was appointed in February 2019 and held its inaugural meeting in May 2019. The work of the Registration Board is significantly more challenging than for registration boards for some of the more established professions, owing to the different and complex entry paths into these professions, the variety of titles used, and the variety and number of courses and course providers.

The Board is now undertaking the substantial work required to open the registers for counsellors and psychotherapists. This work includes the scoping of professions and titles and the consideration of the minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners and for future graduates. This work is ongoing.

Owing to the significant body of preparatory work that the Registration Board is required to undertake; it is not possible to say with any degree of accuracy when the professions will be fully regulated. Once the register is opened, there will be a 2-year transitional period to allow existing practitioners to register.

I hope that this information is of assistance to you.