Ms Mary McHugh:

Ms Hanrahan might be in a better position to answer this than I am, but it is open to people who have been working in social care for a long time and wish to apply to get onto the register. They may have a diverse range of qualifications or, like me, they may have an historical social care qualification. I intend to apply to the register in November. The two-year period will be their only opportunity. I they do not get onto the register within that period, the only opportunity thereafter will be through an approved qualification. In that regard, there needs to be a public awareness campaign. CORU is involved in that. I attended the social care conference this year, as did Ms Hanrahan, and some people were saying they would wait and see. There is no waiting and seeing. Applicants can either get onto the register within the two years, if they wish to grandparent, or they will be required to have one of the approved courses, which will mean they will have to return to college and undertake a course from the start. When I was in college, people graduated with a higher certificate-----