Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for being here to deal with this Bill that concerns certain cohorts of registrants with the Medical Council. As the Minister mentioned earlier, he has tabled amendments associated with the investigation of complaints by the Medical Council and this Bill also concerns the registration of social care workers.

I want to raise queries that I have received that concern CORU and physiotherapists from the UK who wish to work here. The Minister has already answered a number of question on this matter in the Dáil but I want to ask about the demands placed on people who wish to come here. The Bill concerns interns on the medical side but physiotherapists must either complete an aptitude test or a period of adaptation when they come to Ireland if the course they have done in the UK does not meet the requirements of CORU.The challenges arising in the two representations that came to me concerned delays. They want to start working as physiotherapists here but issues concern delays, additional costs and the frequency of exams. I understand but am open to feedback if the Minister is able to comment that for physiotherapists the exam is only twice yearly. It is an additional €500, which I understand is a cost to the candidate. If they do the aptitude test, that is one aspect of it and is on top of the actual exam, which is €400, but it happens only once or twice per year. If they choose to do a period of adaptation, I understand in this case there was not sufficient cardio-respiratory clinical expertise through their placements in the UK. They were advised to go back to the UK to do the placement because they were unable to find a placement and time in a hospital to complete that part of the requirements here. We need as many healthcare people as possible. If there is any way to review the process around physiotherapists, I would appreciate it.