Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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337. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the funding available to psychology trainees undertaking doctorates for counselling and education psychology; the funding available for those outside of first year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16011/23]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training.

I am focussed on using the funding from Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology students in an equitable way that benefits all students in all years of the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, and that delivers value for money. The structure of this funding is currently being finalised by officials in the Department. The approach will be based on best practice and knowledge gained from other health and social care funded training models.

Further detailed discussions are now taking place between the Department and HSE to progress this. I hope to be in a position to announce the details shortly for academic year 2023-2024.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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338. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on funding for counselling psychology trainee programmes, particularly pertaining to those currently enrolled (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16012/23]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training.

I am focussed on using the funding from Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology students in an equitable way that benefits all students in all years of the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, and that delivers value for money. The structure of this funding is currently being finalised by officials in the Department. The approach will be based on best practice and knowledge gained from other health and social care funded training models.

Further detailed discussions are now taking place between the Department and HSE to progress this. I hope to be in a position to announce the details shortly for academic year 2023-2024.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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339. To ask the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in respect of the existing qualification of healthcare assistants from abroad who work here in the context of QQI 5 level qualifications; and if he will provide an update in respect of a national framework of qualification QQI level 5 course for the occupation of healthcare assistant in Ireland. [16016/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In response to work undertaken by the Department of Health, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment provided access to the General Employment Permit in June 2021 for the role of healthcare assistant. The framework agreed with the Department of Health included the requirement for the employment to offer a remuneration level of €27,000 or more and for the permit holder to achieve a relevant Level 5 Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) qualification after two years in the role. The Level 5 qualification after two years is the minimum required for this role. This criterion was established to ensure all workers in the healthcare assistant role would work towards building their skills and range of qualifications and in safeguarding the care of vulnerable patients that a similar standard of learning will be met and delivered upon across care settings.

It is also worth noting that among the recommendations of the Department of Health SWAG Report is the recommendation that ‘a competency framework for the healthcare assistants and care workers should be developed to enable the recognition of prior learning and qualifications and to align grades of employment with qualifications in line with relevant regulations’.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment works with other Departments, including the Department of Health, to promote an integrated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages being experienced in the economy. Employment permit policy is part of the response to addressing skills deficits which exist and are likely to continue into the medium term, but it is not intended over the longer term to act as a substitute for meeting the challenge of up-skilling the State’s resident workforce.

I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this issue and my officials will work with Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment officials in relation to clarification of qualification comparisons from non-EU college courses.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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340. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the issue that has arisen in relation to healthcare assistants who came to Ireland from abroad to work in nursing homes and in hospitals who have nursing level 7 or level 8 qualifications and who are now being told that the HSE will require them to hold a level 5 qualification despite the fact that they already hold the higher level standard; if he will ensure that such persons, who are a valuable part of Ireland's healthcare support system, are not required to repeat a level of qualification below that which they already have obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16017/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In response to work undertaken by the Department of Health, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment provided access to the General Employment Permit in June 2021 for the role of healthcare assistant. The framework agreed with the Department of Health included the requirement for the employment to offer a remuneration level of €27,000 or more and for the permit holder to achieve a relevant Level 5 Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) qualification after two years in the role. The Level 5 qualification after two years is the minimum required for this role. This criterion was established to ensure all workers in the healthcare assistant role would work towards building their skills and range of qualifications and in safeguarding the care of vulnerable patients that a similar standard of learning will be met and delivered upon across care settings.

It is also worth noting that among the recommendations of the Department of Health SWAG Report is the recommendation that ‘a competency framework for the healthcare assistants and care workers should be developed to enable the recognition of prior learning and qualifications and to align grades of employment with qualifications in line with relevant regulations’.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment works with other Departments, including the Department of Health, to promote an integrated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages being experienced in the economy. Employment permit policy is part of the response to addressing skills deficits which exist and are likely to continue into the medium term, but it is not intended over the longer term to act as a substitute for meeting the challenge of up-skilling the State’s resident workforce.

I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this issue and my officials will work with Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment officials in relation to clarification of qualification comparisons from non-EU college courses.