Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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380. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to prescribe the title "physical therapist" as a variant of the specified title of "physiotherapist" in one register in relation to the Health and Social Care Professional Act 2005; his plans to regularise the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41355/15]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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384. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to protect the titles of "physiotherapist" and "physical therapist" (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41382/15]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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437. To ask the Minister for Health if he will protect the titles of "physiotherapist" and "physical therapist" as the level of service physiotherapists and physical therapists provide is completely different (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41820/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 380, 384 and 437 together.

I expect that the Physiotherapists Registration Board will soon make the necessary by-laws under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 to allow it to establish its register early next year. On this basis, the title of physiotherapist will be protected for the exclusive use of the board's registrants when the register's 2 year transitional period ends in 2018.

I am currently examining the issue of also protecting the title of physical therapist under the Act.In other English speaking countries, the title of physical therapist is often used by physiotherapists. In Ireland, however, the title is used by a number of practitioners who are not physiotherapists but who are competing with physiotherapists in the private sector in the provision of musculoskeletal therapies.

Earlier this year, having consulted with the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, I wrote to a number of relevant organisations regarding my proposal to protect the title of physical therapist as a variant of the title of physiotherapistand invited them to submit their views. The submissions are now being examined and I expect that I will make a decision on the matter before the end of the year. As the Deputy can appreciate there are many factors to consider. However, I can assure the House that my main concern will be to protect the public when it comes to decisions on this matter.