Written Answers Nos. 793-816
793. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently on a waiting list with the NCSE for an assessment of needs; the number of children on a waiting list from 2019 to 2025, in tabular form; the average time children spend on a waiting list; the plans to lower the number of children on a waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55353/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
794. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department and each body under its aegis discloses expenditure on external consultancy and adviser fees, by category (details supplied) in their annual report and or financial statements for each accounting year; if they provide direct web links to the most recent publications where these Section 1.5 disclosures are set out for her Department and for each aegis body; and if they provide the total consultancy and adviser fees by the Section 1.5 categories for each of the past five years for her Department and for each aegis body, respectively; and the internal controls that are in place to ensure that these category-level disclosures are made annually and that procurement of such services complies with applicable competitive tendering rules, in tabular form. [55360/25]
View answerOfficials in the Department are engaging with the relevant aegis bodies to collate the information requested. A reply will issue directly to the Deputy in respect of the Department's position as well as the aegis bodies as soon as possible.
795. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans her Department has to progressively reduce the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per month per child during the lifetime of the Government; if she will provide a proposed timeline for the roll-out of this plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55380/25]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring access to affordable, quality early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC), with an investment of €1.48bn in the 2026 budget. This funding will allow my Department to build on recent progress in the gradual reduction of fees for parents, while also supporting supply and the quality of provision. New caps on maximum fees came into effect in September 2025 for all services in Core Funding, building on a range of enhancements to the National Childcare Scheme and Core Funding in recent years, reducing fees to parents.
Budget 2026 will enable Core Funding to continue to support fee-control measures, and will also allow for growth in the sector. The allocation for Core Funding in 2026 will ensure fees remain at 2021 levels for a majority of providers. As well as this, there will be a new maximum fee cap set to reduce costs for families paying the highest fees across the country. Further details of the new, lower maximum fee caps will be announced in the coming months.
The 2026 allocation for Core Funding will also support implementation of the recently announced Employment Regulation Orders (ERO), which will lead to a 10% increase in the minimum rate of pay for educators from 13 October.
There will also be enhancements in Year 5 of the scheme to improve pay for educators and school age childcare practitioners with implementation of new ERO.
Capital funding is also being made available in 2026 for the sector.
All of this will be detailed in the Action Plan on Accessible, High Quality, Affordable ELC and SAC, which the Department is continuing to develop. The Action Plan will be informed by a broad consultation process and will set out plans to achieve Programme for Government commitments, including the commitment to reduce maximum monthly fees to €200 over the lifetime of the Government.
796. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide information on the funding being provided for child and youth participation during Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2026; the initiatives being planned by her Department; the collaboration planned with other departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55465/25]
View answerAs the Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, Ireland will have the responsibility for progressing the EU agenda for the second half of 2026. The Presidency will also provide an opportunity to spotlight issues where we have special expertise, and Ireland is a world-leader on child and youth participation.
During Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Department plans to host a High-Level Conference on the participation of children and young people in decision making. The Department will seek to work with our European partners, including the European Participation Platform, to promote the importance of child and youth participation across the EU.
Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are intensifying across Government. Two cross-departmental groups, chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, are co-ordinating this preparatory work. Officials from this Department are actively engaged in these groups, which focus on the policy and operational aspects of Ireland's Presidency.
As stakeholder consultations begin to inform the development of Ireland’s Presidency programme, the Department is supporting consultations with young people through Seanad na nÓg in November 2025. Ireland's policy programme will be published, as is usual practice, shortly before the start of our Presidency term, in June 2026.
Specific funding allocations for Presidency events and activities are to be determined and will be progressed after the high-level calendar for the Irish Presidency is confirmed later this year.
797. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the efforts her Department is making to address waiting lists for those awaiting an assessment of need; if she will address the delays faced by a person (details supplied) in accessing support from the children’s disability network team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55958/25]
View answerThis Government recognises that waiting times for Assessment of Need (AON) are too long and have a significant impact on delivering on the needs of children and their families. Both this Department and the HSE are committed to reducing the timeframes for assessment and have been working intensively to progress measures to achieve this.
It is important to emphasise that, while children have a right to apply for an AON, they do not need one in order to access health services, including those provided by Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services. Nevertheless, it is acknowledged that the broader system, as it currently exists, is not working as it should for children, many of whom are on long waiting lists for HSE services.
While demand for AONs has increased significantly in recent years, the past 18 months have seen the number of completed AONs increase by 30% in 2024, compared to 2023. This trend has continued in 2025 with a 58% increase in completed assessments in the first half of the year, compared to the first half of 2024.
This has been achieved by a number of measures, including the Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative which funds the procurement of capacity from private providers to deliver clinical assessments, targeting those families waiting longest. HSE data to the end of June 2025 shows that almost 5,000 assessments have been commissioned from private providers in the first 12 months of this Initiative. Budget 2026 has furthermore committed €20 million to commission up to 6,000 extra Assessments as part of the Waitlist Initiative.
However, we cannot rely on the private sector indefinitely and we must ensure that the public system can meet the clearly growing demand. This Department is working with the HSE to ensure the delivery of actions to support the efficient delivery of Assessments of Need within the public system. This includes improved training for staff involved in the delivery of AONs, additional administrative supports, and plans to increase the numbers of Assessment Officers, Liaison Officers and administrative support.
Children’s Disability Network Teams currently provide services and supports for nearly 45,000 children with complex needs and a significant focus of the Government is filling vacant posts within the 93 CDNTs.
HSE data from April 2025 shows there has been a nationwide increase of 26% in CDNT staffing levels since October 2023. Most significantly, the CDNT national vacancy rate has reduced from 29% in 2023 to 18% in 2025, a growth of 415 WTE over the last 18 months, of which 300 are Health & Social Care Professionals.
A dedicated Disability Workforce Strategy is being developed in 2025 to meet growing service demands and address recruitment and retention challenges across specialist disability services.
Funding in Budget 2026 will sustain the progress made in recent years by continuing to support access to critical services, with a particular focus on reducing waiting lists for assessments and therapies for children with disabilities.
I have asked the HSE to revert to you directly with an update on the child, and the steps being taken to provide the services required.
798. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health to outline the work being conducted by her Department on a national policy on the administration of medical cannabis and other medicines which are not licensed for use in Ireland, following the recommendations of an inquest (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55416/25]
View answerRegulation 7 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (Statutory Instrument 173/2017) provides the statutory guidelines for the administration of controlled drugs to patients and only applies to those controlled drugs with a marketing authorisation as a medicine.
Departmental officials continue to consider the matter of the administration of controlled drugs which are not medicines with a marketing authorisation and are not, at this time, in a position to indicate a timeline on the conclusion or outcome of these considerations
799. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the business case submitted in relation to a school (details supplied) on 19 March 2025; if the funding requested will be provided for in Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54553/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
800. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of Parkinson’s nurse specialists employed by the HSE, broken down by year from 2018 to 2024; the number of Parkinson’s nurse specialist positions advertised by the HSE in each of those years; the number of applications received for each of these positions, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54562/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
801. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of a dental appointment for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54572/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
802. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of locating a defibrillator at each full-time health centre and primary care centre, in tabular form. [54587/25]
View answerAutomated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are available in many locations across society under the management of various organisations. AEDs are among the various items eligible for funding under the Community Sport Facilities Fund.
The Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital & Equipment Programme) is operated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Grants are available to voluntary, not-for profit sports clubs, community groups, National Governing Bodies of Sport, and local authorities. Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs or organisations.
The programme funds the purchase of AEDs for the above-mentioned groups and many of these are also available to the wider community.
Funding is also available through the HSE’s national lottery grants schemes and other community grants schemes. At a local level, the network of local sports partnerships throughout the country delivers education and training opportunities across a broad range of areas to local sports clubs and community groups. This includes first aid workshops, which typically cover CPR and-or defibrillator training as part of the content.
From the 1st of January 2023, my Department through the Department of Finance removed VAT from AEDs to make the cost more feasible for groups, organisations or individuals looking to purchase an AED.
803. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the hospitals she has visited since her appointment as Minister; and the purpose of each visit, in tabular form. [54588/25]
View answer804. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health for an update on a matter regarding medication (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54593/25]
View answerMy Department is aware of the stress that shortages of medicines can cause for patients and healthcare professionals alike, thusly mitigating medicine shortages and strengthening security of supply is the subject of several workstreams in my Department, the wider health service and across Europe.
Medicine shortages are a feature of modern health systems worldwide which have been exacerbated by recent worldwide events. It is a global health problem, not unique to Ireland, and increases in demand for medications and medicines shortages have been observed in the UK, throughout the EU and across the world in recent months, and there is no evidence that shortages disproportionately impact patients in Ireland compared to other countries.
Ireland has a multi-stakeholder Medicines Shortages Framework in place, operated by our medicines regulator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) on behalf of the Department of Health. The framework aims to help prevent potential shortages from occurring and to reduce the impact of shortages on patients by coordinating the management of potential or actual shortages as they arise. Stakeholders in this framework include the HPRA, the Department, the HSE, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, wholesalers, patient representative groups and marketing authorisation holders.
The HPRA maintains a list of current and resolved shortages on its website. The webpage is updated daily as the HPRA receives new information.
Teva B.V., the company responsible for supplying Ipramol Steri-Neb 0.5 mg/2.5 mg per 2.5 ml nebuliser solution, has notified the HPRA of a shortage of Ipramol Steri-Neb 0.5 mg/2.5 mg per 2.5 ml nebuliser solution due to an unexpected increase in demand impacting globally. Teva B.V. are presently unable to advise of an exact date for resolution of the shortages of Ipramol Steri-Neb 0.5 mg/2.5 mg per 2.5 ml nebuliser solution.
To note, the recent shortage of Ipramol Salamol Steri-Neb 2.5mg/2.5 ml Nebuliser Solution has been resolved.
In the event that patients are unable to source a medicinal product due to supply constraints, they are advised to discuss possible alternatives with their healthcare professional pending the resumption of normal supply.
805. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a medication on which a person (details supplied) is dependent which is in short supply and is currently not in stock could be accessed alternatively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54595/25]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the formal Reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The Department is aware of the stress that shortages of medicines can cause for patients and healthcare professionals alike, thusly managing and mitigating medicine shortages is the subject of several workstreams across the Department and wider health service.
Ireland has a multi-stakeholder Medicines Shortages Framework in place, operated by the medicines regulator, the HPRA, on behalf of the Department of Health. The framework aims to help prevent potential shortages from occurring and to reduce the impact of shortages on patients by coordinating the management of potential or actual shortages as they arise.
The HPRA maintains a list of current and resolved shortages on its website. The webpage is updated daily as the HPRA receives new information.
In relation to the cost of medicines, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. Possession of a medical card entitles people to access to prescribed medicines subject to the payment of a small prescription charge.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for people with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
There has been a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services over the last few years. This includes reductions in the DPS threshold, expansion of access to free GP care, and the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for children and adults. These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
806. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant respiratory physicians based at Beaumont Hospital in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [54612/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
807. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE paediatric speech and language therapists based at Tonlegee primary care centre in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [54613/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
808. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE dietitians, by grade based at Coolock primary care centre in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [54614/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
809. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Health if she will undertake an independent review of the registration process for dentists by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54625/25]
View answerThe Dentists Act 1985 establishes the Dental Council as the regulatory body for the dental profession in Ireland. Its general concern is to promote high standards of professional education and professional conduct among dentists. The Dental Council's main functions are assigned under the 1985 Act, and this includes establishing, maintaining and publishing a Register of Dentists and a Register of Dental Specialists and providing for the registration and the retention of dentists' names in these registers.
Ensuring the continued protection of the public and high oral healthcare standards is a priority for me as Minister for Health, and I am committed to reviewing and updating the Dentists Act 1985. The review and updating of the legislation is directly related to the wider implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, which envisages a fundamental reform of oral health services. As such, any new legislation will also be informed by this work.
During 2025, the Department is undertaking a two-strand approach to the review and updating of the Dentists Act 1985. Ahead of the revision of the wider Dentists Act 1985, a priority is to progress the development of a small number of interim enhancements to the Dentists Act in areas identified as a priority by the Dental Council and to proceed with these amendments where appropriate.
In order to inform the wider review of the Dentists Act 1985, a series of thematic engagements on legislative matters between the Department and the Dental Council has taken place. These are important inputs to the overall regulatory reform programme that the Department is developing, with the objective of introducing a new modern regulatory framework for all relevant aspects of dentistry, including the scope of regulation, the role, functions and governance arrangements of the Dental Council, and the scope of powers available to it.
The Department welcomes positive engagement from all stakeholders, including the public and wider dental profession, in this regard. I am confident that, informed by this engagement, the Department will be able to deliver a robust, evidence based modern regulatory framework which supports the National Oral Health Policy and the associated reforms targeted for oral healthcare.
Any legislative change will ultimately be a decision for the Oireachtas.
810. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the amounts spent under the Treatment Purchase Fund in each of the years 2015 to 2024; the main countries and recipients of those payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54633/25]
View answerDetails of National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) expenditure for each year are available in the Annual Financial Statements laid before the Oireachtas, which can be viewed at www.oireachtas.ie/en/publications/docs-laid/
The Annual Financial Statements are also incorporated into the NTPF Annual Reports which are published on the NTPF website. Annual Reports from 2007 to 2023 can be viewed at www.ntpf.ie/about-the-ntpf/publications/
The NTPF has also provided my Department with a detailed breakdown of patient care expenditure by treating hospital for the years 2020 – 2024 in the attached document. All NTPF funded treatment included has taken place within the State or in Private Providers in Northern Ireland.
Patient Care Expenditure
In the period 2020 to 2024 expenditure incurred by NTPF related to payments to private and public hospitals to provide inpatient and outpatient services to patients. The expenditure is broken down by payee as follows:
811. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the average time a person is waiting for medical services before availing of the Treatment Purchase Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54634/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
812. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health that status of the €500,000 put aside in Budget 2025 to fund the HSE for the refurbishment, operation and staffing of existing hydrotherapy pools that are currently closed; if this money was drawn down in 2025 in full or in part; or if it will be drawn down in full or in part by the end of 2025; if there was draw down, which services benefitted from it; if there was no draw down, the reason for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54639/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
813. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health if the allocation of €500,000 put aside in Budget 2025 to fund the HSE for the refurbishment, operation and staffing of existing hydrotherapy pools that are currently closed, will be repeated in Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54640/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
814. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to address deficits accruing to major Section 39 providers of disability services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54641/25]
View answerThis is a matter for Department of Children Disability and Equality and should be redirected to that Department.
815. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason no proportionality assessment was carried out in respect of changes to the CORU standards and criteria for counsellors and psychotherapists; and if the implementation of these standards will be delayed to facilitate a proportionality assessment. [54652/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, CORU is Ireland’s multiprofession health and social care regulator. With extensive experience in introducing regulation to health and social care professions for the first time, CORU has already established twelve registers for a range of professions. CORU’s work ensures the protection of the public by regulating the work of over 30,000 health and social care professionals.
Counsellors and psychotherapists perform a vital role, providing therapeutic care to often vulnerable people. Regulation is being introduced to these professions to protect the public, ensuring that care provided is of a consistently high standard and always by suitably qualified individuals.
The Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board (CPRB) was established in 2019 and since that time has been working to progress regulation of both professions.
Following its establishment, the board proceeded to undertake extensive research, analysis, and public consultation to introduce regulation of each profession for the first time.
CORU has now published two distinct sets of regulatory documents, recognising the differences between the professions of counselling and psychotherapy.
For each profession there is:
• Standards of Proficiency, which set out the minimum knowledge and skills required for entry to the Register.
• Criteria for Education and Training Programmes, which set the requirements for how professional training programmes are designed and managed to ensure graduates consistently meet the Standards of Proficiency.
These requirements set out the level of education and clinical training needed to practise safely and effectively. Ireland is now the first country in the world to establish distinct regulatory standards for entry to both professions. Setting these standards has now laid the foundations so education programmes can be designed to ensure consistency of education and training and the standards for entry into practice for both professions.
Under EU Directive 2018/958, and the transposing Irish legislation (S.I. No. 413 of 2022), a proportionality assessment is required prior to the introduction of regulation of a profession (and this includes both new and amended requirements which restrict access to a regulated profession). The setting of Standards and Criteria is one component of this broader regulatory process and does not itself constitute the regulatory provision.
Throughout its work to introduce regulation of both professions, CORU has ensured compliance with the Directive, including assessing the proportionality of the Standards and Criteria. As CORU progresses this works further, other aspects will also be proportionality tested, including registration requirements, the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, and CPD requirements. CORU will submit the results of the proportionality tests to my Department, and subsequently, to the European Commission.
As part of this work to ensure compliance with the Directive, the 2023 public consultation explicitly sought stakeholder feedback on the proportionality of the proposed Standards and Criteria before these were finalised by the Board. CORU continues to work directly with my Department to ensure compliance with EU requirement and remains committed to transparent, fair, and proportionate regulation that protects the public and supports practitioners.
I am assured that CORU will continue to engage closely with education providers, professional bodies, and other stakeholders as the regulatory process advances, keeping public protection at the centre of this work.
I am eager to see this work progressed so that two very important professions are finally regulated, in the interest of public protection.
816. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason an organisation (details supplied) was not consulted after 2023 as part of the development of the 2025 CORU standards and criteria for counsellors and psychotherapists despite the professional expertise available in the organisation. [54653/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, CORU is Ireland’s multiprofession health and social care regulator. With extensive experience in introducing regulation to health and social care professions for the first time, CORU has already established twelve registers for a range of professions.
CORU’s work ensures the protection of the public by regulating the work of over 30,000 health and social care professionals.
Counsellors and psychotherapists perform a vital role, providing therapeutic care to often vulnerable people. Regulation is being introduced to these professions to protect the public, ensuring that care provided is of a consistently high standard and always by suitably qualified individuals.
The Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board (CPRB) was established in 2019 and since that time has been working to progress regulation of both professions.
The CPRB is appointed through the Public Appointments Service process. Its membership includes counsellors, psychotherapists, academics, and lay representatives, each bringing extensive professional and public experience to the Board’s deliberations and decision-making.
Following the establishment of the CPRB, the board proceeded to undertake extensive research, analysis, and public consultation to introduce regulation of each profession for the first time.
The consultation process followed by CORU was fully consistent with its established policy and with the Government’s Consultation Principles and Guidance. Specifically:
• Draft documents were published for public consultation;
• Stakeholders, including the IACP, were formally invited to make submissions;
• All feedback was comprehensively reviewed, and the Standards and Criteria were revised in light of that review before final publication.
The consultation also followed a clear and transparent four-stage process and more detailed is provided below:
1. Publication of draft documents;
2. Public consultation;
3. Review and revision;
4. Publication of final Standards and Criteria.
In 2023, CORU conducted an extended 12-week public consultation on the draft Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training for both professions, counsellors and psychotherapists. The consultation was launched by a live webinar, with a recorded version made available on CORU’s website to ensure broad accessibility. The process was further supported by bespoke e-book resources and comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) designed to assist stakeholders in engaging fully with the material.
To maximise participation and awareness, the consultation was advertised through print and social media, on CORU’s website, and by direct email to a wide range of stakeholders, including professional representative bodies, patient advocacy organisations, employers, education providers, and relevant Government Departments. Reminders also issued throughout the 12 week consultation process.
This extensive consultation generated almost 700 submissions from across the sector - including practitioners, representative bodies, education providers, service users, and members of the public. Among these was a submission from the Irish Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists.
In line with the CPRB’s statutory responsibility to assess, balance and consider all perspectives before reaching a final evidence-based decision, the Board carefully considered every submission received and determined the final Standards and Criteria that now underpin entry to the registers for both counsellors and psychotherapists. This open, structured and inclusive process demonstrates CORU’s clear commitment to transparency, accountability, evidence-based decision-making, and, above all, the protection of the public.
Throughout the process, CORU provided regular updates on its progress via its website.
Meeting individually with one representative body, to the exclusion of others, would not have been appropriate given the diversity and volume of stakeholders who participated in the consultation. While professional representative bodies play an important role in articulating the views of their members, CORU’s statutory remit is to regulate in the public interest. Its decisions are made independently, guided by evidence and grounded in its primary duty to protect the public.
A comprehensive consultation report has been published by CORU, setting out the process followed, the key themes raised in submissions, and the rationale for the final decisions taken by the Board and is accessible at www.coru.ie/public-protection/publications/consultation-reports/counsellors-psychotherapists-registration-board/
I am assured that CORU will continue to engage closely with education providers, professional bodies, and other stakeholders as the regulatory process advances, keeping public protection at the centre of this work.
I am eager to see this work progressed so that two very important professions are finally regulated, in the interest of public protection.
