Mental Health Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023

Tuesday, 25 July 2023

Questions (1307)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1307. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the date he will announce the details of funding to support trainee counselling psychologists; the reason this announcement has still not been made, given that the 2023-2024 academic year commences shortly; if funding will be provided to current trainees in the second and third year of their doctorate programme; if the offer to counselling psychology trainees will be equivalent to the offer to educational psychology trainees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36495/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

Final discussions with the HSE have taken place and the details of the initiative to support counselling psychology training places from the €750,000 Budget 2023 funding for students enrolled in the academic year 2023/2024 will be announced imminently.

This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training. Counselling psychologists play a crucial role in the provision of mental health services, for both adults and children, across primary care and specialist mental health services and multi-disciplinary teams such as CAMHS.

The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE to develop programmes for targeted workforce planning, with a focus on ensuring that training places are available and that graduates have opportunities to work in the HSE.