Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - IACP

Lobbying Organisation Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - IACP

Date published 20 May, 2025

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Finance

Period 1 Jan, 2025 to 30 Apr, 2025

Specific Details VAT exemption for psychotherapy and counselling services

Intended results An exemption from VAT would increase accessibility to therapy by creating equity of treatment and parity of esteem for mental health professionals providing psychotherapy and counselling services, with those who deliver physical health care. The application of a VAT exemption would bring counsellors and psychotherapists into line with the exemption currently available to psychologists and other health professionals.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Lisa Molloy

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.

Email (2-5)

Emails to Minister Carroll MacNeill and Minister Butler congratulating them on their new roles and advocating for the expansion of the VAT exemption for therapeutic services.

Meeting (2-5)

Lisa Molloy, CEO and staff met with Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill in IACP's national office to discuss various topics, including VAT exemption for counselling services. At the IACP's Annual Conference CEO Lisa Molloy and staff met with Minister of State Jerry Buttimer, who was launching the event, and the importance of the VAT exemption was mentioned to the Minister.

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.

Jerry Buttimer Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister (Department of Health)

Mary Butler Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)