Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - IACP

Lobbying Organisation Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - IACP

Date published 21 May, 2024

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Taxation

Period 1 Jan, 2024 to 30 Apr, 2024

Specific Details The application of VAT on the professions of counselling and psychotherapy.

Intended results For a VAT exemption to be extended to counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Nicole Mac Dermott

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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? The IACP requested our members via email and in our newsletter to contact the Minister of Finance and their elected representatives in the Oireachtas to support our proposal to eliminate the VAT for the professions of counselling and psychotherapy. We have a contact your elected representatives tool including email templates on our website.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members The IACP requested our members via email and in our newsletter to contact the Minister of Finance and their elected representatives in the Oireachtas to support our proposal to eliminate the VAT for the professions of counselling and psychotherapy. We have a contact your elected representatives tool including email templates on our website.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

Sent a comprehensive VAT submission to the Minister of Finance on 6th March 2024.

Letter (2-5)

In March sent letters requesting support for our VAT submission that would extended the VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland.

Event / Reception (1)

Deputy Frank Feighan, TD gave opening remarks at the IACP Annual Conference in Sligo on 20th April and we asked for his support for our VAT submission.

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.

Simon Harris An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Mary Butler Minister of State (Department of Health)

Stephen Donnelly Minister (Department of Health)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Finance)

Frank Feighan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)