Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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1063. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects the counsellors and psychotherapists registration board of CORU to have completed its review of the submissions received regarding the draft standards of proficiency for counsellors and psychotherapists, and publish the outcome of this review; the projected timeline envisaged by CORU leading to the opening of the counsellors and psychotherapists register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44163/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator. CORU’s role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), including setting the standards that health and social care professionals must meet to be eligible for registration and maintaining registers of persons who meet those standards.

Seventeen health and social care professions are designated for regulation by CORU. There are currently registers open for twelve professions and CORU is continuing the substantial work required to open the registers for the remaining designated professions of psychologists; counsellors and psychotherapists; clinical biochemists; and orthoptists.

The Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board (the board) was established in 2019, tasked with establishing regulation for the two professions of “counsellor” and “psychotherapist”.

Since its establishment the board has carried out extensive work to advance the introduction of regulation for both professions. Most recently a public consultation was held on the Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes for both professions. This was open for twelve-weeks from September until December 2023.

There was an extremely high level of engagement with this consultation process. 689 responses were received with extensive engagement from stakeholders including members of the professions, education providers, employers, professional bodies, and members of the public.

The consultation submissions highlighted that there remains significant disagreement within and between the professions, that they are distinct and separate, and there are diverse opinions as to the competences required for entry to the professions required for safe practice.

In this context, it's crucial to carefully consider the risks to the public. The criteria for education and training programmes, especially regarding practice placements, must balance protecting vulnerable service users with ensuring that students are supported in becoming proficient, independent and safe practitioners through completing their training.

The board is carefully considering the submissions to its public consultation as it works to set the threshold standards required for public protection and following this extensive review activity, the board will communicate the next steps in the process towards introducing statutory regulation for counsellors and psychotherapists.

Owing to the significant amount of work to establish and implement the standards required for public protection, it is not possible at this time to confirm the timelines for registers opening for the professions of counselling and psychotherapy.