Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 140: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 15 February 2005, the way in which a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can achieve five years work experience if they are unable to obtain employment in the first place with the western area of the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9557/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Following the settlement of a High Court action, a revised mechanism for the assessment of chiropodists who wished to practise in the public health service was finalised in early 2003. The High Court settlement laid down the eligibility requirements for access to this revised assessment. These were that an applicant should have at least five years practice in chiropody at the date of application during which period such practice constituted the applicant's principal source of income. The closing date for applications for the assessment process, conducted under the aegis of my Department, was 31 May 2003. In order to be eligible to apply for the assessment, a chiropodist would have had to be in practice at end May 1998. The majority of applicants who were eligible to apply for assessment obtained the requisite five years' experience in private practice. The assessment process concluded early this year. Two significant developments have taken place in recent months that will impact on the assessment of chiropodists wishing to practise in the public health service going forward.

The Health and Social Care Professionals Bill 2004, which provides for the establishment of a system of statutory registration for health and social care professionals, including chiropodists, was published on 27 October 2004 and has commenced its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas. Under the legislation, the Chiropodists Registration Board will be legally responsible for establishing and maintaining a register of chiropodists going forward.

The Health Act 2004, which provides for the establishment of the Health Service Executive, repealed section 18 of the Health Act 1970 which provided that qualifications for appointment as an officer under a health board had to be approved of or directed by the Minister for Health and Children. Under the 2004 Act, the executive now has responsibility for the appointment of staff, including the determination of eligibility for employment in terms of the assessment of qualifications, skills, knowledge and competence to perform the role required of any particular post.