It is recognised that Life & Business Coaching is a rapidly growing, emerging profession within Ireland.

Practitioners have different qualifications, educational backgrounds, levels of experience and are members of a range of associations, coaching or otherwise, and none.

No common professional identity or certifying body exists within Ireland. This situation poses challenges for clients who wish to avail of professionally accredited services and for coaches who wish to be regarded as fully accredited professionals.

The Networks primary goal is to work with the relevant educational institutions, coach training organisations and coaching associations on the co-development of an independent* national framework for the development and accreditation of professional Life & Business coaches in Ireland. This framework would be based on agreed competencies and standards and incorporate prior learning, experience, training from a range of certified training organisations, supervision, different levels of accreditation and ongoing professional development.

The network is intended to be a vehicle whereby all those interested in the development of coaching in Ireland can work together, in a strategic way, to guide that development. The network is not a commercial selfinterest entity and has established ICDN Ltd. as a non profit making company to administer the financial activities of the network.

A conference has already been held and a number are being planned for 2007 to get all the relevant and interested bodies involved in the process of developing the national framework. The first of these was held in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise on 16th November 06 and was attended by over 60 delegates representing all elements of the coaching world in Ireland. Mr. Philip Brew of Coach Development was the facilitator with participation and engagement the order of the day. There was agreement that we should all work together to build on the great work done already by all the different associations in creating the high quality credible profession we all desire.

The need for a number of working groups to continue the development in a number of areas was proposed and, most significantly, the formation of a co-ordinating group made up of all the different coaching associations was committed to.

For further information please contact Mr.Gerry Ryan, Director ICDN Ltd.

Phone: 063 70464 Email: gryan@icdn. ie * Accredited through the National or European Framework of Qualifications or equivalent i. e. FETAC, HETAC, EQF