Minister Launches Addiction Counsellors of Ireland Strategic Plan 2026–2029 at AGM
The Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI), Ireland’s specialist accrediting and representative body for addiction professionals supporting over 500 members nationwide, held its Annual General Meeting on Friday, 6th June at the Talbot Hotel, Carlow. The AGM brought together counsellors, addiction workers, and sector representatives from across Ireland.
The event was attended by Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, who formally launched the ACI Strategic Plan 2026–2029, which was then presented by ACI Board member John Devlin. It sets out ACI’s priorities for the next three years in the context of significant change across the addiction sector, including increasing demand for services, workforce pressures, and the evolving landscape of addiction, including process addictions.
A key focus of the Plan is preparation for the introduction of CORU regulation of counselling and psychotherapy, which will represent a major change in professional registration and standards across the sector.
The Plan outlines ACI’s work to strengthen membership and professional supports, expand access to continuing professional development, and enhance its role in representing and advocating for addiction professionals at national level.
It also highlights ACI’s commitment to improving recognition of the addiction workforce, including greater parity with other health and social care professions, and strengthening the visibility of addiction work within policy and public debate.
ACI Chairperson Dr James O’Shea said:
“As we launch our Strategic Plan, we recognise this as an exciting and significant time for the Addiction Counsellors of Ireland and for the wider counselling and psychotherapy professions. Moving towards statutory regulation, ACI is proud to lead within the addiction field and to represent our growing membership, which now includes Addiction Workers, during this important period of progress and reform. Our Strategic Plan reflects our strong commitment to professional excellence, evidence-based practice, and the delivery of safe, accountable, high-quality care for those who in support.”
Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor said:
“ACI’s strategic plan is timely in view of the changing nature of drug use, new and emerging drug trends, increased demand for services and the need to train and retain staff to help people with substance use issues on the road to recovery. We have to face up to the wide prevalence of problem drug use across society and provide appropriate high-quality services to meet the health and social needs of the diverse population groups who use drugs.”
The Minister announced an additional €11 million in recurring funding for drugs and inclusion health services in Budget 2026. This funding includes €0.2m to enhance strategic workforce planning for drug services across all six health regions.
The Minister added, “I firmly believe that workforce planning is critical to ensure that staff have the skills to respond to the changing nature of drug use and to deliver high-quality and person-centred health care.”
The AGM provided an opportunity for members to reflect on the work of ACI over the past year and to consider the organisation’s strategic direction for the period ahead.
