Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Jul 1993

Vol. 433 No. 7

Written Answers. - Clinical Psychology Service.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

63 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the understaffing of the clinical psychology service of the health boards and to the low pay in this area and the difficulty health boards have in attracting staff; if his attention has further been drawn to the long waiting lists for treatment, that non-serious cases have to wait for up to a year, and to the fact that full implementation of the Child Care Act, 1991 cannot be undertaken in view of the present staffing situation; the plans, if any, he has to deal with this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

A number of health boards have identified a need for additional psychology staff to enable them to prepare for the full implementation of the Child Care Act. My Department is examining the matter in the context of the £5 million recently made available by the Government for the implementation of the Act and I expect that this will lead to an early improvement in the availability of psychology services.

The question of the pay of clinical psychologists was the subject of parliamentary questions and an Adjournment debate on Thursday, 24 June and I would refer the Deputy to the relevant Dáil records. The basic grade clinical psychologist salary scale currently runs to a maximum of £20,697 per annum while the senior clinical psychologist scale provides a maximum of £23,740 per annum. A claim for an increase in these scales has been served, as noted in the course of replies to the parliamentary questions and the Adjournment debate referred to.