Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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529. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding health care assistants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34372/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Section 22 of the Health Act 2004 gives the HSE the authority to appoint persons to be its employees and may determine their duties. Under Section 22 of the Act, the HSE has responsibility for setting and approving eligibility criteria, including qualifications and relevant experience, for appointments to HSE posts. This includes recruitment to health care assistant posts.

The role of the Health Care Assistant is to support nursing staff in the delivery of care to the patients under the supervision of the Clinical Nurse Manager and Nurses/Midwives.

As Health Care Assistants work under the direct supervision of nurses/midwives, it is considered that any issues arising would be more appropriately addressed by the employer.

There are no further plans at this stage to regulate health care assistants.