Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the setting up of the Health and Social Care Professions Council, registration boards for certain designated health and social care professions and the designated professions under section 4 of the Health and Social Care Professional Act 2005 for which established boards have been set up in view of the fact that this Act was signed into law on 30 November 2005. [33472/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health and Social Care Professionals Council, launched in March 2007, is being established on a phased basis. The CEO and one head of administrative staff were appointed in 2008. An additional two senior administrative staff took up duty with the Council in late August 2009 and will be responsible for Registration and Education and Legal Affairs and Fitness to Practice. These particular appointments will greatly assist the Council in their ongoing work in preparing for the establishment of the individual Professional Registration Board the first of which, The Social Work Registration Board, will be established later this year. It is hoped to bring additional Registration Boards on stream commencing in 2010, including The Physiotherapy Registration Board which has been delayed due to legal issues which are currently being resolved.

The 2008 Budget Day announcement on rationalisation of agencies provided for the merging of the Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) and the Opticians Board into with the Health and Social Care Professionals Council. There is a considerable amount of work involved for the Council in facilitating this rationalisation as efficiently and as effectively as possible. My Department is working with the Council, the PHECC and the Opticians Board to ensure that the appropriate administrative and legislative provision is in place to initiate this rationalisation, commencing 2010. The resources, both human and financial, which the Council will acquire on foot of rationalisation, will be of great assistance in rolling out of the twelve Registration Boards on a phased basis.