Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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926. To ask the Minister for Health the current average phone answering times for Caredoc services in Carlow and Kilkenny; the number of calls currently waiting at peak times; the steps being taken to address delays; and the future plans to ensure timely access to out of hours care. [51971/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the questions raised about Caredoc relate to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy on these matters directly, as soon as possible.

Please note that a Strategic Review of General Practice is currently underway, led by officials from my Department with support from the HSE and input from relevant stakeholders. The review is examining a range of issues affecting general practice including Out of Hours services. As per the Review's Terms of Reference, the Review is to identify the requirements necessary to reform Out of Hours GP services to ensure delivery of an accessible, high quality service throughout the country.

Significant progress has been made under the review which is to be completed this year. When completed, a final report will be presented to me outlining the findings of the review and setting out recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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927. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the omission of mandatory personal therapy from CORU's training requirements; if she is satisfied that the omission of this training requirement will not be detrimental to the care provided to CORU's clients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52003/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, 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).

Counsellors and psychotherapists perform a vital role, providing therapeutic care to often vulnerable people. Regulation is being introduced to these professions to protect the public, ensuring that care provided is of a consistently high standard and always by suitably qualified individuals.

Following designation of the two professions to be regulated in 2017 the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board (CPRB) was established in 2019 and since that time has been working to progress regulation of both professions.

The CPRB undertook extensive research, analysis, and public consultation to introduce regulation of each profession for the first time. The public consultation process received over 700 submissions, including educators, professional bodies and existing practitioners. This comprehensive process recognised the differences in scope and complexity of practice between the two professions and ensures that the threshold standards and qualification levels set for each accurately reflect the competencies required for safe and effective practice, while strengthening public protection. This consultation process has been published by CORU and is available on their web site.

In July 2025 CORU published two key documents for each of these professions.

• Standards of Proficiency: These outline the threshold knowledge and skills required for entry to the register. They define what a counsellor or psychotherapist must be able to do at the point of entry into practice.
• Criteria for Education and Training Programmes: These set out the systems and processes education providers must implement in the design and management of education and training programmes. They provide assurance that all graduates have achieved all the Standards of Proficiency upon successful completion of an education and training programme.