189 Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health and Children if the national counselling service is exempt from the public service moratorium; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2018/11]

The National Counselling Service (NCS) is a professional, confidential counselling and psychotherapy service available free of charge in all regions of the Health Services Executive. The client group of the NCS includes adults who have experienced trauma and abuse in childhood, with priority given to adult survivors of institutional abuse in Ireland. The HSE has given priority in its National Service Plan to the provision of counselling services to those affected. The HSE's Employment Control Framework exempts the counsellor grade from the current public sector moratorium on recruitment and filling of vacancies.