Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the commencement of a school of podiatry in a university here. [33870/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The FÁS "Healthcare Skills Monitoring Report" (2005) provided a quantitative analysis of demand and supply in 21 health care occupations including podiatry. It highlighted podiatry as among those professions where current and future supply shortages should be addressed and recommended that a School of Podiatry providing 20 to 30 places be established.

Responsibility for its establishment will be a matter, in the final instance, for the Department of Education and Science.

The delivery of clinical training, which is a significant core component of the course, must be facilitated in an integrated manner with Health Service Executive (HSE) services. The HSE has advised the two Departments of its view that the school of podiatry would be best located in a large centre of population, one that is associated with a multi-disciplinary health professional environment and which is linked to a major teaching hospital.

Meetings are continuing at an official level between my Department, the Department of Education and Science, the Higher Education Authority and the Health Service Executive to progress the matter. When these discussions are finalised, it is likely that a call for proposals will be made.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 350: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the registration of podiatrists, chiropodists and other health professionals as provided for in recent legislation. [33871/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a system of statutory registration for health and social care professionals, including podiatrists.

The structure of the system of statutory registration comprises a registration board for each of the 12 professions to be registered, a Health and Social Care Professionals Council with overall responsibility for the regulatory system and a committee structure to deal with disciplinary matters. The system will be administered by a Chief Executive Officer and staff.

My Department is proceeding with the establishment of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council in the first instance. In this regard, nominations have been sought from relevant professional bodies and other stakeholders and it is intended that the first meeting of the Council will take place in the coming months.

Following the appointment of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, work will commence on the establishment of each of the registration boards including the Podiatrists Registration Board. It will be a matter for the Podiatrists Registration Board, when established, to determine criteria for registration and the Board will be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a register of professionals who meet these criteria.