Written Answers Nos. 1542-1562
1542. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a schedule of the data sets he and the HSE provides to the Department of Education on an annual basis; and if he will clarify if the data he provides is aggregated or whether it is individual records. [56732/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1543. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56735/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1544. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56737/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1545. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if she will consider providing financial support/ funding to a foundation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56739/23]
View answerA Letter of Determination was issued by my Department to the HSE on 28th November 2023, outlining my priorities and the HSE's funding allocation for 2024. Specific funding for individual organisations is an operational matter for the HSE. The HSE is currently in the process of producing its National Service Plan (NSP) for 2024; it is not until the conclusion of this process that a detailed breakdown of the funding provided to individual organisations will be available.
1546. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health his views on the new Commission on Social Connection to address loneliness as a pressing health threat; if resources will be allocated to the development of the committed-to action plan to combat loneliness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56754/23]
View answerI welcome the establishment by the World Health Organisation of the Commission on Social Connection. The Commission will consider how connection enhances the well-being of our communities and societies. I look forward to reviewing the report which is expected to be published in 18 months.
Evidence shows loneliness is a significant issue for population health and a number of different studies have linked loneliness to multiple chronic health conditions. Loneliness levels in Ireland are rising, and the pandemic was a major contributory factor to increases in social isolation. Loneliness can be detrimental for our physical and mental health, while reconnecting with others post-COVID-19 pandemic has numerous physical and mental health benefits.
The 2021 Healthy Ireland Survey - which was carried out while significant restrictions were still in place - found a significant increase in isolation and a decrease in the proportion of the population reporting positive mental health. Some 81% reported lower levels of social connectedness and 30% reported worsening mental health since the pandemic started.
Given the detrimental impacts of loneliness, a significant body of work has been undertaken, across diverse areas of the Department of Health and the HSE, to address this.
In response to the increase in loneliness which particularly impacts older people, the Ministers for Health and the Chief Medical Officer, supported by Healthy Ireland, developed a nationwide campaign, aimed at older people, to encourage them to rebuild their social connections and re-integrate into their communities. Post-pandemic, with vaccines and sensible precautions, it is safe for older people to reconnect with the world, to say “Hello Again World”, make up for lost time and re-establish important connections with their community.
Social prescribing recognises that health is heavily determined by social factors such as poverty, isolation and loneliness, and offers GPs and other health professionals a means of referring people to a range of non-clinical community supports which can have significant benefits for their overall health and wellbeing. HSE-funded Social Prescribing services are now available in 44 locations across the country. These services are delivered in partnership with community and voluntary organisations such as Family Resource Centres and Local Development Companies, and as part of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme.
Mental health of older people is a priority in Sharing the Vision, Ireland's national mental health policy, with actions including improving access to Mental Health Services for Older People, promoting evidence-based digital mental health interventions in the general population and with older persons, and linking recommendations with the National Positive Ageing Strategy.
Healthy Age Friendly Homes is a support coordination service which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of older adults and to enable them to remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. The programme is an innovative collaboration between Health, Housing, and Local Government, through the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service.
Referral into the programme can be made by the older person themselves, or by a family member, friend, GP, carer, or member of their community. On referral into the programme, their Local Coordinator will carry out a home visit to conduct a holistic assessment of needs in the areas of health, housing adaptations, home energy assessments and retrofits, community and social supports, and assistive technologies.
Following a successful Sláintecare pilot in 9 local authorities, I secured €5.2m in Budget 2023 to roll the programme out nationally to all 31 Local Authorities. This provides for a Local Coordinator, employed by Age Friendly Ireland (Meath County Council), to be situated in each local authority across the country. The programme will be coordinated nationally across six regions aligned to the six new HSE Health Regions.
A sample of participants were invited to take part in a research study conducted by Maynooth University. Overall, improvements were demonstrated in a number of health and wellbeing indicators, including measures of loneliness.
The HSE have advised that in line with the Enhanced Community Care Programme (ECC), their objective is to deliver increased levels of health care with service delivery reoriented towards general practice, primary care and community-based services. The focus is on implementing an end-to-end care pathway that will care for people at home and over time prevent referrals and admissions to acute hospitals where it is safe and appropriate to do so and enable a “home first” approach.
As part of the ECC programme, the Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP) model aims to shift the delivery of care for older people away from acute hospitals towards a community based, planned and coordinated care model which is closely aligned to Primary Care and Acute sector partners. The objective of the programme is to improve the quality of life for older people by providing access to integrated care and support that is planned around their needs and choices. This supports them to live well in their own homes and communities without the need to access acute care settings. As of Quarter 3 2023, 94 of the 96 Community Healthcare Networks and 24 of the 30 ICPOP teams have been established across Ireland.
The HSE, in conjunction with ALONE, is also continuing the roll out of a Support Co-ordination Service across the country. The Support Co-ordination Service will support older people to live independently at home for as long as possible, through support coordination and access to services such as practical supports, befriending, social prescribing, assistive technology, and also the coordination of linkages to local community groups. This service is being led out under the Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Programme.
These services will support the Enhanced Community Care model and facilitate all Community Health Networks (CHN’s) to deliver a coordinated system of care, integrated around older people’s needs, by collaborating with the Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP) teams, and further expand the ALONE Community and Partnerships to co-ordinate and deliver services in each Community Healthcare Organisations (CHO).
The end goal of the Support Co-ordination Service is to improve the quality of life for older people by improving access to integrated care through working with provider partners, statutory bodies, volunteers, and to provide the right level of care, in a timely manner, in an appropriate location, ideally in a setting of older people’s choice.
Acknowledging the disproportionately negative impact of the pandemic on older persons, the Programme for Government (2020) commits to the establishment of a commission on care that will ‘assess how we care for older people and examine alternatives to meet the diverse needs of our older citizens’, learning the lessons from COVID 19. On 3 October 2023 the Government approved the proposal that the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People and I brought forward for the establishment of a Commission on Care for Older People, for which €1.24 million was allocated in Budget 2024. The Commission will examine the provision of health and social care services and supports for older persons and make recommendations to the Government for their strategic development. Subsequently a cross-departmental group will be established under the auspices of the Commission to consider whether the supports for positive ageing across the life course are fit-for-purpose and to develop a costed implementation plan for options to optimise these supports. The Commission will be an independent commission, the members of which will be appointed by Minister Butler and Minister Donnelly. On 14 December 2023 we announced the appointment of Professor Alan Barrett, Chief Executive of the Economic and Social Research Institute, as Chairman of the Commission. The other members of the Commission will be appointed in the coming weeks.
At a local level, Mental Health Day Services provided by the HSE are available to those who may require them, which provide mental health and medication supports, as well as wider assistances associated with daily living. Over many years, both Day Care and the Meals on Wheels service have proven to be important components of the community services offered to older people, particularly in rural communities. In May 2023 I announced the allocation of €5.25 million funding for Meals on Wheels and Day Centres for older people to organisations across the country.
Budget 2024 has seen increased investment in both areas building on recent investment to support these services. Community services are the backbone of social care provision and play an important part in keeping older people out of hospital and in their own homes and communities for longer. We will be investing an additional €2.7 million in 2024 for Day Care Services, which includes an additional €500,000 provided to increase the provision of in-home dementia day care and an additional €1 million for Meals on Wheels nationally.
The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 - 2025: Ambition, Goals and Commitments was published in January 2020. The primary ambition of the Roadmap was to “Reduce consistent poverty to 2% or less and to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU."
The Roadmap for Social Inclusion is an overarching statement of Government strategy, which acknowledges the range of sectoral plans already in place that have social inclusion as a core objective, in areas such as education, health, children and childcare, community development and housing. These plans remain key to ensuring that social inclusion is at the core of public policy and service strategy across all government departments and services.
1547. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if the Hello Again World campaign will be expanded to ensure information about resources reaches older people without internet access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56755/23]
View answerIn response to the increase in social isolation and loneliness, which particularly impacts older people, the Ministers for Health and the Chief Medical Officer, supported by Healthy Ireland, developed a nationwide campaign, “Hello Again World”, which first ran in early 2023, aimed at older people to encourage them to rebuild their social connections and re-integrate into their communities.
A second burst of the campaign commenced on Monday 20th November 2023 and will run until Sunday 21st January 2024. As part of the current burst a new campaign webpage on gov.ie was published with easy actions to help people connect and build social connections. Advertising for this campaign is being run across TV, Radio, Digital Retail Outdoor, Video on Demand, and selected Social channels.
There are currently no plans to expand this campaign beyond the current arrangements.
1548. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health what additional amount has been allocated to orphan/new drugs for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56756/23]
View answerA record almost €3 billion, nearly €1 in every 8 spent by the State on health, will be spent this year on medicines. This is an unprecedented level of investment in supporting patients through the availability of the latest and wide range of medicines.
It is important that medicines expenditure is sustainable for the State and that we strive to maximise the available investment. This will enable us to provide as many people as possible with access to the necessary medicines.
Over the last 3 years the State has invested €98 million in new medicines funding to provide 148 new medicines or extended uses for medicines.
In 2024, I have tasked the Health Service Executive, my department, and all relevant agencies and stakeholders to place a priority focus on achieving the most efficient and effective use of available resources. This will require opportunities for savings to be identified and implemented.
€20 million of dedicated funding has been allocated for new medicines in 2024. I have also asked the Health Service Executive to ensure it realises at least €10 million in new additional efficiency gains. This money will be re-invested in new drugs and will ensure that the substantial investment in medicines is maximised to treat even more patients with new therapeutic innovations in the years to come.
1549. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will provide accurate resources for genetic testing for rare diseases at Our Lady’s Children's Hospital, Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56763/23]
View answerAs the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1550. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on the number of doctors in HSE consultant posts that are not on the Irish Medical Council specialist register for the specialty they are practising in (details supplied); his views on the potential for patient safety issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56773/23]
View answerThe HSE are responsible for ensuring that any consultant working in the health services have the necessary qualifications and certifications required to work as a consultant. HSE policy stipulates that consultants who are not registered on the Specialist Register are not to be appointed in a consultant post without adhering to a specific Protocol.
The “Escalation Protocol to Deputy Director General – Chief Operations Officer for prior approval of the employment of any Consultant not on Specialist Division of the Register of the Medical Council of Ireland” is only used in the most exceptional circumstances. Where a consultant post is being filled, all options to recruit a suitable candidate with Specialist Registration must be exhausted before this escalation protocol is invoked.
The measures within the Protocol are designed to ensure that it is only in exceptional circumstances that a doctor who is not on the Specialist Register of the Medical Council is appointed to a consultant post and to ensure appropriate governance and supervision arrangements are in place when such an appointment occurs.
1551. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a procedure carried out; and if they can avail of the cross-Border directive, given the circumstances. [56781/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the query raised by the Deputy as to when a particular individual will have a procedure carried out, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
In relation to the Cross Border Directive, the HSE currently operates three schemes that facilitate patients accessing treatment abroad.
The EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) is a consultant led scheme and allows for an Ireland-based public consultant to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland.
An alternative where the treatment is available in Ireland is the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD). The EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) provides rules for the reimbursements to patients of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State, and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level.
Additionally, the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NI PHS) has been in effective operation since 1 January 2021 having been introduced to mitigate the loss of access to care from private providers in Northern Ireland under the EU Cross Border Directive, which ceased to apply as a result of Brexit. The current administrative scheme enables persons ordinarily resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare in Northern Ireland by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland.
The HSE provides further information on its website about how each of the schemes operates, including the criteria for eligibility:www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1552. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will expand the regulation to permit pharmacists to administer RSV vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56793/23]
View answerThe Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 determine what medicinal products can be administered by a pharmacist.
Currently there are no plans to amend the legislation to permit pharmacists to administer the RSV vaccine. Any amendments to legislation would need to be considered carefully and in line with public health.
To give current position in relation to policy considerations relating to RSV, the immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.
NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.
COVID-19, influenza and pneumonia vaccines are currently available to certain groups of adults, who are most vulnerable to a severe outcome from these diseases, as part of the adult immunisation programme.
Additional information in relation to the current adult vaccination programme is available from the HSE website at www.hse.ie
NIAC has submitted advice in relation to RSV vaccines to my Department for consideration. It advises that RSV vaccines, which have recently received EMA authorisation, for infants and persons over 65yrs, are safe and effective and should be considered for use in Ireland. In its advice NIAC also noted that further analysis of cost effectiveness and programmatic considerations is required to determine the most appropriate use of RSV vaccination in Ireland.
In line with this, my Department has asked HIQA to include a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in their workplan to determine firstly, whether infant or adult vaccination would provide the greatest benefit in reducing healthcare utilisation due to RSV infection, and secondly, what the most cost-effective RSV immunisation strategy for Ireland would be.
The outcome of this HTA will determine whether or not a change to the National Immunisation Programme will be required. If so, the appropriate administration arrangements will be put in place.
1553. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if a home help application will be prioritised for a person (details supplied) in order that they can be discharged home from a residential care facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56811/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1554. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health to provide details on a proposed health centre (details supplied). [56822/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1555. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether his Department has articulated a policy on the roll-out of pulmonary rehabilitation for those patients suffering with lung fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56823/23]
View answerTo be answered by the CCO's office and reply sent directly to Deputy.
1556. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if orthodontic treatment can be offered to the son of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56829/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1557. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) who is a quadriplegic, living at home and needs to attend hospital regularly via ambulance, cannot source an ambulance. [56837/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1558. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to reclassify the condition XXY, Klinefelter syndrome in order that it can fall under the HSE’s long-term sickness protocol (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56877/23]
View answerThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions covered, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public inpatient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
In 2023, a further range of measures facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. These include an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged 6 and 7, and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card under the GMS Scheme is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
Under the DPS, no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
1559. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to examine a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56880/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1560. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to review correspondence from a person (details supplied) and seek advice on what supports might be available for them in this difficult situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56882/23]
View answerAs this refers to an individual case, I have referred this matter to the HSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1561. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health if he can provide details of the bed capacity on the ground floor east of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda prior to renovation works carried out in 2022; the current capacity of the ground floor east; the number of beds the renovation works on ground floor west planned to deliver; the cost of this project; the value for money assessments or reports that may have been carried out; the name of the primary contractor for these works; his views on whether best practice and all health and safety regulations were followed during the works; if all building regulations and permits were issued and filed with the appropriate authorities prior to the commencement of the works; the details of what structural surveys were carried out prior to the commencement of the works; his views on whether the project delivered the number of beds promised; if additional inspections and surveys were carried out during and after the process; if so, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56886/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1562. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to the key recommendations set out in an online submission by an organisation (details supplied) to CORU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56888/23]
View answer1563. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health that due consideration be given to the development of clarity around the nature of the work of psychotherapists, in particular including the differentiation between psychotherapists from counsellors, as per the key recommendations set out in a submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56889/23]
View answer1564. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health that due consideration be given to the setting of the threshold level of entry to the register for psychotherapists at level 9 on the NFQ and that additional proficiencies be added as described in a submission (details supplied) to address the higher educational level, clinical supervision as integral to the programme and personal and professional growth and development arising from engagement in personal psychotherapeutic experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56890/23]
View answer1565. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if due consideration will be given to the inclusion within the framing of training programmes for psychotherapists of personal psychotherapy/personal psychotherapeutic experience, as per the key recommendations set out in a submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56891/23]
View answer1566. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if due consideration will be given to revisiting of details around direct observation of clinical practice within training, as per the key recommendations set out in a submission made by an organisation (details supplied) to CORU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56892/23]
View answer1567. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if due will be given to the revisiting of details around practice placement context and clinical supervision, as per the key recommendations set out in a submission made by an organisation (details supplied) to CORU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56893/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1562, 1563, 1564, 1565, 1566 and 1567 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and Registration Boards, collectively known as CORU, are responsible for protecting the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training, and competence amongst the professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act (2005).
Each profession designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act has its own independent registration board with statutory responsibility for:
• Establishing and maintaining the register of members for that profession;
• Recognising qualifications gained outside the State;
• Approving and monitoring education and training programmes for entry to the register;
• Setting the code of professional conduct and ethics giving guidance to professionals on Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
The Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board (CPRB) was established in February 2019. Its membership comprises practitioners, representatives from education and training, and lay members, which ensures there is a broad range of voices and perspectives shaping the design of standards and criteria. The work of the CPRB includes consideration of the titles to be protected and the minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners and the qualifications that will be required for future graduates. The work of the CPRB is significantly more challenging than it is for registration boards for some of the more established professions owing to the different and complex pathways into these professions, the variety of titles used, and the variety and number of courses and course providers.
The CPRB undertook an extensive research process which informed the drafting of standards and criteria. This included a review of contemporary evidence-informed academic literature, an examination of comparator international professional standards, and understanding the contemporary practice of the profession in Ireland. Key stakeholders, including the public (through a public consultation process), were also part of the drafting process.
Throughout the course of 2022 and 2023, the CPRB drafted threshold level standards of knowledge, skills and professional behaviour – its Standards of Proficiency – and the systems and processes that education providers must have in place to ensure consistent and effective delivery of graduates who have achieved the Standards of Proficiency ¬– its Criteria for Education and Training Programmes. Two sets of these requirements were drafted: one for counsellors and one for psychotherapists representing the first attempt to establish distinct standards for each profession in Ireland and the first effort to standardise threshold level education and training requirements for entry to each profession.
The public consultation on the draft Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes ran for 12 weeks from 4 September until Friday 1st December 2023. As part of this consultation, the CPRB encouraged feedback from all stakeholders, including members of the professions, education providers, employers, professional and representative bodies, as well as members of the public. The public consultation is the mechanism through which professional bodies, as well as other stakeholders, are given an opportunity to provide their views on the draft standards.
I am informed that the CPRB will consider all submissions very carefully in formalising Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes for the psychotherapy profession. CORU, on behalf of the CPRB, will brief my Department on the outcome of the public consultation in due course.
