Irish Council for Psychotherapy (Irish Council for Psychotherapy)
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Email (2-5)
ICP CEO contacted Deputy Duncan Smith T.D. & Ged Nash TD (Labour Party) & Deputy Mark Ward T.D. (Sinn Féin) & Róisín Shortall TD (Social Democrats) to seek briefing meetings with them. Róisín Shortall TD had to cancel ICP’s meeting to facilitate the rescheduling of The Health Committee’s meeting with the Minister for Health.
Informal communication (2-5)
Ged Nash, Labour Party TD asked the Minister for Health when he expects CORU to complete its review of the submissions received re: the draft standards of proficiency for counsellors & psychotherapists, & publish the review outcome; the projected timeline envisaged by CORU leading to the opening of the counsellors & psychotherapists register; & if he will make a statement on the matter. Health Services Staff Questions (1063) (Ged Nash) (05/11/2024) https://tinyurl.com/yjmzcsnf
Email (2-5)
Ged Nash TD’s Parliamentary Assistant said he previously backed the call for increased mental health funding in schools, supporting a grant of €20 per pupil devolved to schools to allow them to finance supports locally like counselling & psychotherapy. This was in line with the call by the IACP for a school counselling & psychotherapy initiative. This was in addition to their support for an extra €100m for mental health supports in the Health budget.
Email (2-5)
Re: tax relief & VAT exemption calls, Ged Nash TD’s Parliamentary Assistant said these proposals are difficult to cost so they hadn’t been in a position to put a figure in their alternative budget plans, but they would be raising them during the debate on the Finance Bill later in 2024 which implements budget decisions and allows them to table technical issues like these for consideration by the Minister.
Email (2-5)
Mark Ward T.D.’s Parliamentary Assistant said he added ICP’s general election manifesto document to their list for consideration & also used it for consideration before the launch of their Mental Health Action Plan. They were in the process of finalising their alternative budget which would inform their General Election Manifesto for health.
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.