Health and Social Care Professionals.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 September 2007

Wednesday, 26 September 2007

Ceisteanna (184, 185)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

263 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will assist a group (details supplied). [19754/07]

Dan Neville

Ceist:

271 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding registration of hypnotherapists in accordance with the Health and Social Care Professional Act 2005. [19809/07]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 271 together.

I established the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (HSCP Council) in March of this year, under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, to put in place a regulatory system for the 12 health and social care professions included in the Act. The HSCP Council has overall responsibility for the system and are working to put in place an organisational structure and establish registration boards for the 12 professions.

The Act provides a framework to guide future decisions on the protection of additional titles, however, I understand that the priority for the HSCP Council is to put the regulatory structures in place for the professions designated in the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.