Irish Council for Psychotherapy (Irish Council for Psychotherapy)

Lobbying Organisation Irish Council for Psychotherapy

Date published 21 May, 2025

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Education and Training

Period 1 Jan, 2025 to 30 Apr, 2025

Specific Details The ICP is a united group speaking on behalf of psychotherapists and psychotherapy training schools, which operate to rigorous standards of competence and professionalism. Funding for Wellbeing and Mental Health Supports in Post-Primary Schools / Department of Education Counselling in Primary Schools-Pilot (CPS-P) 2023-2025 https://tinyurl.com/afyjy85y

Intended results Session Limitations is ICP’s central concern. Short-term psychotherapeutic support services are neither intended nor designed to address the psychological consequences of adverse & traumatic childhood experiences. Nor are they designed to identify & assess the different layers of psychological complexity within the student population. ICP want to be included in any emerging conversations; to contribute to the dialogue & make the case for the provision of psychotherapy in schools in Ireland. To protect the high & rigorous standards of training; to approve the use of state-aided school funding to avail of the services of psychotherapists in private practice according to each school’s unique context, culture & environment; to amend the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 to make psychotherapy services VAT exempt in line with services provided by other health & social care professions including those of psychologists. These remain priority issues for ICP.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Rúaidhrí O’Connor (CEO)

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

ICP CEO contacted Helen McEntee TD (Minister for Education and Youth) (Fine Gael) to seek a briefing meeting to discuss/progress ICP’s key issues & be included in any emerging conversations; to contribute to the dialogue & make the case for the provision of psychotherapy in Ireland’s schools. ICP CEO contacted Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (Minister for Health) (Fine Gael) & Mary Butler TD (Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health) (Fianna Fáil) to seek briefing meetings.

Email (1)

Stephen O’Brien (Private Secretary to Minister McEntee) outlined Neart - the new national programme of mental health & wellbeing resources & training for post-primary schools delivered by Jigsaw & developed by Jigsaw in partnership with NEPS & the Department of Education; guidance counsellors & the important role they fulfil within the post-primary school system; Strand 1 of the Counselling in Primary Schools; the focus of the counselling provided under the CPS-P (early intervention).

Email (1)

Mary Butler TD (Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health) (Fianna Fáil) asked Amy Brennan (Private Secretary to Minister Butler) to acknowledge receipt of ICP’s correspondence & meeting request & that a further reply would issue as soon as possible.

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.

Helen McEntee TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Education)

Bernie McNally Assistant Secretary (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)

Bernie McNally Secretary General (Department of Education)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister (Department of Health)

Mary Butler TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Butler Minister of State (Department of Health)