Under Section 18 of the Health Act, 1970, qualifications for the employment of clinical psychologist and psychologist community care grades were declared by the Minister for Health and Children, in consultation with the relevant professional organisation for psychologists in Ireland.
My Department has met, and been in correspondence with, the Psychological Society of Ireland on many occasions in the past to discuss issues of relevance, including the professional qualifications required for psychology posts in the health service. Updated qualifications for clinical psychologist and psychologist community care grades were subsequently declared by my predecessor in 2002, in line with the professional standards considered appropriate by my Department and the relevant professional organisation.