Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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705. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of clinical psychologist places in universities and institutes available across the State; and the number of clinical psychologist graduates from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [67448/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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706. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of clinical psychologist graduates which did not continue with that career following graduation for the years 2020 to 2025; and the number of these graduates who went on to work within the HSE following their graduation for the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [67449/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 706 together.

The information requested was sourced by the HEA and is provided in the attachment, which lists enrolments and graduates in Psychology programmes for the last 5 years. For clarity, it should be noted that Clinical psychology is a psychology specialisation requiring completion of a doctorate. As there are no undergraduate degrees in Ireland that are specifically designated as 'Clinical Psychology', and students typically complete a general psychology honours degree and then pursue postgraduate clinical training, I have provided information on both undergraduate and postgraduate student enrolments and graduates.

It is important to note that Graduates are surveyed nine months after graduation to identity the main destination at that time. The most up-to-date survey covers graduates from the year 2024. The HEA have provided my Department with information from years 2018 to 2024, the most recent six years for which they have data. There was no survey of the class of 2019 due to COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The data being provided is on both the Undergraduate and Postgraduates and is based on the percentage of respondents to the survey for the two course lists you provided.

Level 8 Honours Degree:

Approximately 1,050 graduates from these courses were surveyed in the above years. Of those who responded, 53% were in employment while 42% were engaged in further study nine months after graduation. 92% of respondents in employment reported they were employed in Ireland.

19% of respondents were employed in the Education sector and 21% were employed in the Human health and social work activities. A very small number of respondents (<10) who provided a job title described themselves as “Assistant Psychologist”. This is as would be expected given that further post-graduate level professional training is required for employment as a psychologist proper.

Postgraduate courses:

Just under 450 Graduates from these courses were surveyed for the same time period. Of those who responded, 96% were in employment nine months after graduation, of whom 98% were employed in Ireland. 82% were employed in Human health and social work activities and 10% were employed in Education.

Graduates are asked to provide job titles and organization names. The vast majority of respondents to the job title question would appear to be employed as psychologists with a smaller proportion employed in academic or research positions. Of those who provided an organisation name, 45% would appear to be working in the HSE. This is the single biggest employer.

I wish to confirm that my Department continues active engagement with both the Department of Health and the Department of Children in relation to the future pipeline of psychologists, with a particular focus on child and educational psychologists.

An Expression of Interest process will issue shortly, and my officials, working closely with colleagues in the HEA, and leading the ongoing work to increase the supply of programmes in healthcare including in the therapies disciplines, and including areas such as child psychologists as well as other important healthcare areas that are being targeted for expansion.

[Attachment to follow]