Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 583: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his plans regarding ongoing training and possible internships for qualified physiotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9274/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Clinical education is an essential component of the physiotherapy degree programme. Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical placement hours as part of their undergraduate qualification. The current minimum standards for practice education require students to complete sufficient hours of supervised clinical practice to ensure the integration of theory into practice. These placements are arranged to ensure that all students have adequate exposure to key aspects of practice in relevant settings in order to equip and enable them to practice safely and in a manner which will ensure the provision of high-quality interventions.

The Health Service Executive encourages and provides for the continuing professional development of all relevant health and social care professionals employed in the health service.

I have asked my Department to examine how this gap in training can be addressed so as to allow the seamless passage of physiotherapists to the community where they are sorely needed.