Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 February 2014
237. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the circumstances leading to the resignation of the national lead on psychology for the Child and Family Agency this month; and if the post will be re-advertised in the near future. [10113/14]
View answerA lead psychologist was assigned from within the HSE to assist Children and Family Services with service development issues relating to psychology services. This work is nearing completion and proposals are being finalised for consideration by the Chief Executive Officer of the Child and Family Agency and the Director General of the HSE. This process will help to inform decisions on the most effective mechanism for the delivery of psychology services by the Child and Family Agency in accordance with its statutory remit.
I understand that having completed this work the assigned psychologist will revert to the HSE. The future human resource requirement of the Agency in the area of Psychology services will be determined having regard to the collaborative work currently being finalised by the Agency and the HSE. This will include an analysis of the current number of psychologists employed within the Health and Social Care system and the deployment of these resources.
