Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
1107. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the risk that session-based counselling activity figures may overstate service reach where the same individual attends multiple sessions within a reporting period; and, if so, to provide the findings. [37048/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1110. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Therapeutic Interventions Service Improvement Programme Board has been given a formal mandate to examine counselling data governance, regional comparability, unmet demand, patient outcomes and workforce capacity; and, if so, to provide its terms of reference. [37051/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1111. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the planned mapping of HSE and HSE-funded counselling services will include section 39 providers, National Office for Suicide Prevention-funded services, Tusla-funded counselling services, local low-cost counselling charities and community voluntary providers; and when this mapping exercise will be completed. [37052/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1107, 1110 and 1111 together.
The establishment of a national talk therapy programme board to enhance access to talk therapies and ensure greater consistency in delivery and standards of service provision is a priority action for HSE Mental Health Services in the National Service Plan for 2026.
Included in the scope of the Talk Therapies Programme Board (TTPB) will be the provision of therapeutic interventions, supports and services across the lifespan, i.e. for adults and for children and young people, and at every levels of service provision i.e. from universal supports to specialist mental health services and acute level services.
The HSE TTPB will provide consolidated leadership and governance for relevant therapeutic interventions, with the aim to increase capacity, and facilitate access to, high quality integrated supports and services for all who require them.
Specifically the TTPB will provide:
• The means to mobilise and align efforts towards universally accessible talk therapies
• Greater consistency of approach and standards in service provision
• Stronger oversight and leadership
• Delivery models that are better integrated and coordinated from the outset, and can remove obstacles associated with levels of care if required and clinically appropriatePotential to further assess and develop partnership and multi-agency working, and shared-care arrangements
• A focus for proposals for further resource in this area
The Programme Board will commence its work this year, and service mapping will include HSE funded counselling services, which will include some section 39 providers, and National Office for Suicide Prevention-funded services. As part of its work, the Programme Board will also be considering the use of routine outcome measurement across HSE talk therapies.
As Minister I am satisfied with the effectiveness of the CiPC service, and with the administration of the service, including data collection and validation and how this informs my Department’s policy making and decisions on investment in the annual Estimates process. I continue to invest in CiPC and other State funded counselling supports, including €2 million in funding announced in 2025 to provide access to a suite of new talk therapies and counselling supports specifically tailored for men. Access to the services began from September 2025 and to date over 1,400 men have been supported.
