Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Health and Social Care Professionals Regulation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2018

Wednesday, 7 February 2018

Ceisteanna (183)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

183. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have signed up to an organisation (details supplied) for accreditation. [6138/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I wish to inform the Deputy that the Department of Health has no function in the oversight of the Irish Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists and therefore does not have any information on the number of its members.

Counsellors and psychotherapists are not currently designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. The Minister for Health may designate health or social care professions not currently designated if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if the specified criteria have been met. Following a public consultation I decided to proceed with the designation of two distinct professions under the Act, that of counsellor and psychotherapist. Each will have its own register under one registration board. This decision was communicated to the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU), the relevant professional bodies and all the respondents to the public consultation process.

The draft Regulations to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist and to establish a registration board for the professions have now, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, been laid before each House of the Oireachtas on 9th November 2017 and resolutions approving the drafts have been submitted to each House for consideration.

Barr
Roinn