Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Psychological Service.

Finian McGrath

Question:

798 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if the joint review group report 2002 in relation to psychological services (details supplied) will be urgently implemented in view of the fact that there is a 64% vacancy rate for psychologists in the ERHA region; and if he will deal with this crisis. [19572/03]

Denis Naughten

Question:

1004 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the action he is taking to implement the 2002 joint review group report to address shortages of trained psychologists in the health service; if he will outline the measures implemented to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21205/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 798 and 1004 together.

Following the publication of the report of the joint review group on psychological services in the health service in March 2002, a major priority for my Department was to promote an integrated and co-ordinated approach by the health boards to its implementation over time. This applied in particular to the major recommendations of the report relating to the organisation and management of psychology services, entailing very substantial increases in the number of principal and director level psychologist posts.

Given the key role of the health boards executive in fostering collective working and progressing organisational change and development in the health service, my Department secured the agreement of the executive to work with the directors of human resources in the health boards towards the implementation of the recommendations of the report. The present position is that the directors of human resources are in the process of individually considering the recommendations contained in the report and how their boards might propose to proceed with the implementation process in due course. This work is being undertaken in the light of: service imperatives; funding priorities; and the budget 2003 announcement on public service numbers.

In this context, it is important to bear in mind that the overall budgetary and economic position in 2003 has had important implications for all aspects of public spending, as is reflected in the Estimates and budget adopted by Government for 2003.

Moreover the health service reform programme was announced on 18 June 2003. The programme's priority focus is improved patient care, better value for taxpayer's money and improved health care management. The reform programme has drawn on the conclusions and recommendations of the two reports, the Commission on Financial Management and Control Systems in the Health Service and Audit of Structures and Functions in the Health System, which were also published on the same day.

Psychological services are currently delivered as part of broad primary, community and continuing care umbrella. Within the new structure, psychological services will be delivered under the primary, community and continuing care directorate of the health services executive. Any implications of the new structures for the recommendations of the joint review group will be examined in the context of the implementation of the reform programme.

My Department, together with the directors of human resources in the health boards, is currently prioritising support for the implementation of a key recommendation of the joint review report relating to human resource planning through the provision of a substantial number of additional postgraduate training places in clinical psychology. 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. At present, there are about 105 clinical psychologists undertaking postgraduate training in the State. Over 60 students are enrolled on the Psychological Society of Ireland's clinical psychologist postgraduate 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. The National University of Ireland, Galway is commencing a new postgraduate doctorate in 2003 and plan to enrol an additional 12 students while the University of Limerick also has plans to introduce doctoral programmes in clinical psychology with a proposed intake of nine students.

My Department remains 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 service as detailed in the important recommendations on investment in training and education detailed in the action plan for people management published in November 2002. A particular priority is to secure the best return, in terms of graduate output, on the very significant financial resources currently being invested in the health service to support postgraduate clinical psychology training. Consequently, my Department, together with the health boards' directors of human resources, have been examining various issues in relation to human resource planning for clinical psychologists in the health service, including the requirement to increase the number of postgraduate psychology training places on a planned and sustainable medium-term basis. A paper outlining a proposal to develop a new model has been produced and this document has been circulated to the relevant parties for discussion. It is hoped that agreement to move to a new model will help maximise the number of psychology training places in the system, in line with service requirements.

In addition to ongoing contacts with the directors of human resources group in this matter, officials of my Department have over recent months met with representatives of the heads of psychology services, the Psychological Society of Ireland and IMPACT to discuss progress in implementing the recommendations of the joint review group report.