Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
2024. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to recognise qualifications for psychologists accredited in non-EU jurisdictions to enable them to work in public healthcare and clinical settings. [41801/22]
View answerThe profession of psychology is designated for regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. The Psychologists Registration Board was appointed in July of 2017 and has since undertaken a substantial programme of work to develop a regulatory framework for the profession. Before the register can open the Board must, amongst other things, set the minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners and the qualifications that will be required for future graduates and also consider which titles should be protected.
When the register opens, the Psychologists Registration Board will be the Competent Authority responsible for the recognition of non-Irish qualifications. Currently, as Minister for Health, I am the Competent Authority for the recognition of psychology qualifications held by EEA nationals under Directive 2005/36/EC. However, this is for the assessment of psychology qualifications to access employment in the publicly funded health service only.
Directive 2005/36/EC only applies to EEA nationals wishing to practise a regulated profession in an EU Member State. However, my Department also applies the assessment processes of the Directive to qualifications which are outside the Directive’s scope, i.e. the psychologists referred to in the Deputy’s question.
As the HSE solely recruits persons in the specialist areas of clinical psychology, counselling psychology and educational psychology, a recognition process exists for these three specialties alone. I am advised by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PsSI) in the assessment of the applications and the process is administered by the Validation Unit of the Department on my behalf.
Each application received is assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure the professional meets the standards that are required and is safe to practise the profession in this State. In some instances, an applicant may have deficits in their professional qualification/experience and these applicants are offered a compensation measure in the form of an adaptation period (a placement) or an aptitude test. All efforts are made by the Validation Unit and the Psychological Society of Ireland to deal with these applicants in as time efficient a manner as is possible. Applicants with any queries should contact validation_unit@health.gov.ie.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
