Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018
324. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health when the registration board for counselling and psychotherapy under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46579/18]
View answerEarlier this year I signed the regulations to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. The next step will be the appointment of the 13 members of the registration board. The Public Appointments Service carried out a recruitment campaign to identify suitable candidates for my consideration. Twenty seven candidates have been identified through this process which concluded in late September. I will be considering the panel of applicants shortly with the intention of appointing the 13 members of the registration board before the end of the year.
Once appointed, the registration board will begin the substantial programme of work to draft the various bye-laws to allow the board to establish its registers. The board will also be requested to advise myself and the Health and Social Care Professionals Council on a range of issues pertaining to the regulation of the professions, including minimum standards of education and training and the titles to be protected.
