Vol. 558 No. 5
314 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children when the recommendations of the joint review group in clinical psychology to increase the annual output of clinical psychologists from 20 to 50 will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25143/02]
My Department is currently supporting the provision, for a second year, in excess of 30 additional training places in clinical psychology through the Psychological Society of Ireland's post-graduate diploma, in line with the recommendation referred to by the Deputy. The report of the joint review group refers to the swift response of my Department to the requirement for the provision of the additional training places.
Primary responsibility for the provision of training places to meet recruitment needs in clinical psychology, consistent with the recommendations of the report, rests with the health boards, especially in the context of the requirement to better integrate human resource planning with the service planning process. In this regard, the Deputy may wish to note the provision of funding directly by health boards in support of training places in clinical psychology at UCD, TCD and through the PSI scheme.
