Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Health the reason recent social worker graduates who paid €100 registration fee last year are expected to pay €295 for 2012 when there will be no fitness to practice committees, no supervision of regulation are currently in place and while other social workers are not required to pay until 2013; his views that this is fair and equitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17130/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the 12 registration boards to be established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 are responsible for protecting the public by regulating health and social care professionals. The Council was established in March 2007 and is working to put in place the necessary structures for registration, education and fitness to practise for the 12 health and social care professions designated under the Act.

The first registration board to be established, the Social Workers Registration Board, was established in August 2010, and the associated Social Workers Register opened for receipt and processing of applications for registration on 31st May, 2011. A second registration board, the Radiographers Registration Board, was established on 16th December 2011 and its register is expected to be established later this year. The opening of the Social Workers Register marks the first step in the regulation of an estimated 2,500 social workers.

Under the provisions of the 2005 Act, there is a two-year transitional period from the date on which the register of the members of that profession is established, during which existing practitioners may apply for registration. From May 2013, every social worker wishing to use the title will be required to be registered. The name of every registered social worker will be published in the register, which will be accessible on-line. Only social workers who have satisfied the board that they hold an approved qualification and are "fit and proper" to engage in the practice of the profession will be entered on the register.

A new statutory Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Workers has been adopted by the Board to underpin the regulation of the profession. The Code specifies the standards of ethics, performance and conduct required of registered social workers in a clear and accessible manner. The new system of regulation will give the public confidence that they are dealing with a fully qualified and regulated professional whenever they encounter a social worker.

Part 6 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 refers to issues concerning complaints and disciplinary sanctions in relation to registrants and a fitness to practise advisory committee is currently working to develop a fitness to practise framework. The related fitness to practise regime for social workers, to be introduced at the end of the transitional period in May 2013, will allow concerned members of the public to make a complaint about a registered social worker. If upheld, disciplinary sanctions can be imposed, including preventing that person from practising as a social worker. The implementation and operation of a robust fitness to practise process will underpin and ensure adequate patient safety provisions.

The current fee structure is as follows and is set by the Council being mindful of the requirement for it to become self funding as soon as possible. A registration fee of €100 for new graduates, who have obtained recognised professional qualifications within two years of applying for registration. A registration fee of €295 for existing practitioners with the necessary experience and recognised professional qualifications or equivalent. An annual retention fee of €295 for registrants, including those who paid the lower rate on graduation, is payable on the annual renewal date which is 31st May each year for Social Workers.