Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 March 2019
335. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year cost of extending eligibility for the counselling in primary care service to all children whose families qualify for a medical card and to all children whose families qualify for a general practitioner card, respectively. [11706/19]
View answerCounselling services for children in primary care aims to ensure that adolescents and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs can access services in their local communities in a timely manner. The service is suitable for children who are experiencing certain difficulties such as depression, anxiety, panic reactions, relationship problems, loss issues, stress. A medical card is not required in order to access these services.
A national pilot programme involving the recruitment of staff grade psychologists and assistant psychologists has been introduced in order to improve access to counselling services for children in primary care settings.
