Vol. 543 No. 1
180 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to increase the number of psychologists available throughout the health services in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25808/01]
181 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself regarding the adequacy of the number of psychologists available through the various health boards; his plans to increase the numbers in line with demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25809/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together.
In recent years, my Department has provided significant additional funding for health boards for the enhancement of existing consultant-led multidisciplinary teams in the mental health area and the development of new teams in both the adult and the child and adolescent mental health services. The Deputy may wish to note the 35% – an additional 96 – increase in psychology staff since 1996.
I am aware in the context of work carried out by my Department along with health service employers and IMPACT on the joint review group on psychology services in the health service that shortages of psychology staff exist in the health service. The review group identified that a key factor in this resource shortage was the inadequate number of postgraduate training places available.
A workforce planning exercise carried out under the aegis of the review group recommended the provision of approximately 30 additional postgraduate training places in psychology. Following a competitive bidding process initiated by my Department these additional places are being provided in the current year through the Psychological Society of Ireland's postgraduate diploma course. It is intended, subject to the availability of appropriate resources, to support a similar process in order to maintain this increased level of training places next year.
There are a number of unfilled psychology posts in the Kildare mental health service. However, I have been informed by the South-Western Area Health Board that measures are being taken to fill these posts as soon as possible.
