Written answers

Tuesday, 16 February 2010

Department of Health and Children

Health Service Staff

9:00 pm

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 278: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the moratorium on hiring staff in the Health Service Executive will be waived in the case of staff who took up the HSE sponsorship scheme which trained them as nurses on condition that they signed up to a service agreement that they would return to work in the service and who cannot work as nurses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8016/10]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Health Service Executive operates a sponsorship scheme for eligible and experienced public service employees who wish to train as nurses/midwives. This scheme was introduced in 2002 to provide a career development pathway for health care assistants and other support staff who are involved in the delivery of care to patients and clients of the public health service. The implications of the moratorium on recruitment and promotions for this particular sponsorship scheme are currently the subject of discussions between my Department and the Department of Finance.

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 279: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the vacancy for chairperson of the national working group on the regulation of complementary therapists has been filled; if not, when she plans to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8018/10]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 285: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the vacant position of facilitator for the therapists working days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8073/10]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 285 together.

There are no vacant positions of Chairperson or Facilitator, as referred to by the Deputy, as these roles have already been provided for by my Department. The Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists in 2006 made recommendations on strengthening the regulatory environment for complementary therapists. The Report of the National Working Group outlined guidance for professional associations and provided examples of codes of ethics and good practice, including grievance and disciplinary procedures. To support the development of robust voluntary self-regulation, my Department has facilitated the provision of work days to facilitate different therapies to come together to undertake a process of harmonisation and development with regard to common basic standards of practice, education and training.

Among the recommendations contained in the Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists was that the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) take a role in the accreditation of programmes of higher education and training for complementary therapists. HETAC has now determined and published a set of standards for complementary therapies to be used in the accreditation of any programmes submitted by providers of education and training in complementary therapies. These standards will be a valuable tool in the accreditation of relevant education and training programmes. In adopting these standards, HETAC has identified a requirement that each programme within a therapy should only be validated when there is federation into one representative organisation for that therapy.

Federation of individual professional therapy associations into one representative organisation for that therapy is a key component required for the development of common standards of education and training for complementary therapies. This approach is essential to ensure harmonisation of standards and to eliminate variations in standards of education and training or codes of practice within each complementary therapy discipline. The complementary therapy sector is currently engaged in forming the solid frameworks and federations with which to link and to govern the sector, and it is hoped that further progress in this area can be achieved over time.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.