Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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201. To ask the Minister for Health if she or her Department are aware of the concerns of practicing psychotherapists with the proposed changes to CORU regulation on psychotherapy; the way in which the proposals will ensure the maintenance of standards of psychotherapy profession, keeping in line with best European and international practice; if she is aware of the potential implications for the reduction of training hours with the new regulation changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64569/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists is being introduced to protect the public, ensuring that care provided is of a consistently high standard and always by suitably qualified individuals.

CORU have undertaken extensive research, analysis, and public consultation to introduce regulation of each profession for the first time.

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.

The recently adopted Standards and Criteria reflect the threshold knowledge and skills required for safe practice at entry to the professions of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

CORU’s competency-based framework ensures that essential attributes such as self-awareness, reflexivity, and ethical judgment are achieved through validated educational methods, including clinical supervision, reflective practice, and experiential learning.

The standards set the threshold for safe and effective practice, without restricting innovation or allowing education providers to exceed these minimum requirements at their discretion.

I am confident that CORU’s work will bring clear benefits for public protection.

CORU will continue to engage closely with stakeholders, including professional bodies as the regulatory process advances, keeping public protection at the centre of this work.