David Cullinane
Question:96. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the steps she will take to improve access to community psychology services. [64616/25]
View answerThursday, 20 November 2025
Questions (96)
Written answers
Primary Care Psychology provides a broad range of supports, including early intervention, psychological assessment, and treatment for mild to moderate mental health conditions and, where required, appropriate escalation to secondary or specialist services.However, I fully acknowledge that the waiting lists and waiting times for access to Primary Care Psychology are far too long.
Increases in waiting lists are related to several factors including an increase in referrals and greater complexity of presentations. While staffing levels have increased in recent years, demand for services has also risen year on year, representing a 62% increase between 2017 and 2025.
Since 2021, Primary Care Psychology waiting list initiatives have focused on removing individuals under the age of 18 who have been waiting longer than 52 weeks. Between 2021 and 2025, a total of €24.75 million has been allocated, with 15,000 approx. additional children and young people removed from the waiting list as of the end of September 2025. In Budget 2026, the Government continues its investment in the ‘Primary Care Child Psychology Waiting List Initiative’.
We have also expanded our training capacity over the past three years with the HSE providing funding and support for trainee psychologists.
An additional 45 places were introduced in 2023, a further 45 in 2024, and an additional 45 in 2025—135 training places in total.
However, I fully acknowledge we need to do more. That is why the Programme for Government commits “to develop a new care model for HSE Primary Care Psychology”. We need to look at how services are organised and find more effective ways of working to ensure more timely access to support. An important part of this will be psychology workforce reform, maximising capacity and different ways of working to meet the range of need in primary care settings. There are effective workforce models that use mechanisms such as clinical supervision and competency assurance approaches safely and effectively.
This commitment is part of larger efforts to promote good mental health and ensure access to appropriate supports when and where people need them.