Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2013
266. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if EuroPsy, the European standard of education and professional training in psychology set by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations is recognised here; if he will outline the way an EU psychologist accesses this recognition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23497/13]
View answerThe Minister for Health is the Competent Authority for the recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC, of non-Irish professional qualifications of certain categories of health and social care professions for the purpose of recruitment to the publicly funded health sector in Ireland.
Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications, applies to all EEA nationals wishing to practise a regulated profession in an EU Member State other than that in which they obtained their professional qualifications, on either a self-employed or employed basis. Its intention is to make it easier for certain professionals to practise their professions in European countries other than their own but due safeguards are provided in the assessment of the qualifications for public health and safety and consumer protection. In certain circumstances, non-EEA nationals who are legally resident in Ireland can benefit from the provisions of the Directive.
For the purpose of the Directive, a regulated profession is defined as a professional activity access to which is subject, directly or indirectly, by virtue of legislative, regulatory or administrative provisions to the possession of specific professional qualifications. Where statutory registration does not exist for a profession in Ireland, as is the case with Psychology at present, non-Irish qualifications are assessed for their equivalence to the Irish entry-level qualifications required to work in the public health sector.
The Directive provides for mutual recognition of qualifications for certain professions. In the case of the health and social care professions, the Directive does not provide for automatic recognition of professional qualifications obtained in another Member State; it provides for an assessment, on a case-by-case basis, of the qualifications of an applicant against those required to practise in the host member state. If the activities covered by the profession in the home and the host member state are not comparable but deficits in the qualifications are identified, subsequent post-qualification professional experience of the applicant must be considered. If deficits still remain, the host Member State must offer an applicant a compensation measure, a choice of completing an adaptation period or taking an aptitude test.
EuroPsy the European standard of education and professional training in psychology set by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Association can form part of an individual’s application for assessment of qualification for equivalence to the Irish entry-level qualification required to work as a psychologist in the public health sector.
