Vol. 566 No. 1
90 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of post graduate training places for professional psychologists; his views on whether this is an adequate number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11891/03]
At present there are about 105 clinical psychologists undertaking post graduate training in the State. Over 60 students are enrolled on the Psychological Society of Ireland's clinical psychologist post graduate training diploma, 24 are enrolled on the doctoral programme in clinical psychology at TCD – 12 in first year and 12 in second year – and 19 are enrolled on the doctoral programme in clinical psychology at UCD – ten in second year and nine in third year. Since end-1999 there has been a threefold increase, from 26 to 83, in the number of trainee clinical psychologists employed in the health services. It is understood that both the National University of Ireland, Galway and the University of Limerick have plans to introduce doctoral programmes in clinical psychology in 2003 with an intake of a further 20 students in total.
My Department is committed to working on an ongoing basis with health agencies, educational providers and the education authorities to ensure adequate provision of training places in clinical psychology, consistent with the medium-term human resource requirements of the health services.
