Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 April 2024
16. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he has considered the proposal submitted to him in March 2024; if he intends to extend the VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16821/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra17. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the campaign by a group (details supplied) that seeks to draw attention to requests to review the VAT exemption to include counsellors and psychotherapists; if this is under consideration within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16840/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra18. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland, which would create equity of treatment and parity of esteem for mental health professionals providing psychotherapy and counselling services with those who deliver physical healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16870/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra19. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to extending the VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland (details supplied). [16878/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra22. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance to address the inconsistency in VAT regulations and extend the VAT exemptions to psychotherapists and counsellors providing services and to ensure equal treatment with other professionals working in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17016/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 19, inclusive, and 22 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. Under our legislation the provision of medical care services by recognised medical professionals are exempt from VAT. This includes health professionals registered under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011, and those engaged in a regulated profession designated under Section 4 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.
Statutory Instrument No. 170 of 2018 (Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Regulations 2018)) of 2 July 2018 designates psychotherapists and counsellors as a regulated profession and establishes the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board. Professional counselling and psychotherapy services provided by persons registered by this Board are exempt from VAT from the date of their registration. Where such services are supplied by a person who is not so registered (including where the services are provided by a person in advance of their being so registered) then the supply of the service is liable to the reduced rate of VAT, currently 13.5%.
Psychologists are listed as designated professionals in the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, although the register of psychologists envisaged by that legislation has not yet opened. I am advised by Revenue that, because the supply of services by psychologists were exempt from VAT for many years prior to the 2005 Health legislation, that pre-existing exemption has been maintained pending commencement of the Psychologists register.
On 27 February 2019, the then Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, confirmed the establishment of and appointment of members to the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board, under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (amended) to regulate the professions of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. The thirteen members of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board were appointed with effect from 25 February 2019.
Questions on the establishment of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board and their progress in opening their register are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Health.
I understand that officials in my Department have engaged with their counterparts in the Department of Health in relation to this matter and have advised them that the VAT exemption in question will apply from the date of registration by the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board.
