Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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580. To ask the Minister for Health the reason he has not appointed the Physiotherapy Registration Board to date despite calling for expressions of interest in April 2013; if he will confirm that this is a statutory board; the number of expressions of interest he has received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15284/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Health and Social Care Professionals Council (the 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 promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence among the registrants of the following 12 health and social care professions designated under the Act: clinical biochemists, dietitians, medical scientists, occupational therapists, orthoptists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists, radiographers, social care workers, social workers and speech and language therapists. In time, and in accordance with the provisions of the 2005 Act, only registrants will be entitled to use these titles.

Five registration boards are currently operating. The registration boards for the remaining seven designated professions will become operative on a phased basis by 2015.

Expressions of interest in being appointed to 12 positions on the Physiotherapists Registration Board were invited through the Public Appointments Service in April last year and a total of 29 eligible candidates applied for consideration. In addition a nominee of the Minister for Education and Skills has been proposed. I am currently examining these applications and expect to appoint the members of the new board in the near future.