Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 4

Written Answers. - Counselling and Therapy Standards.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

159 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the body responsible for establishing standards for recognition and applying those standards in respect of counselling and therapy providers; and if he has satisfied himself that these standards and procedures are treating fairly persons who have, through long years of experience, established great skill in this field, and are not setting impractical requirements for such practitioners in relation to the variety of clients and the form of supervision. [17243/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

There is no statutory body responsible for setting standards in relation to counsellors and therapists. The counselling and therapy professions are self-regulated by the professional body, the Irish Association for Counselling and Therapy. Under section 18 of the Health Act, 1970, I have approved qualifications in relation to alcoholism counsellors.

Most of the counsellors currently being recruited to the health service are employed to deal with victims of childhood abuse. Having regard to the nature of this work, counsellors and therapists are required to have a primary degree in social work, psychology, nursing or medicine as well as a relevant post-graduate qualification or an accredited counselling/therapy qualification. This model was agreed by the health boards and is not considered to be an impractical requirement.