Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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167. To ask the Minister for Health if a decision has been made to protect the titles of "physiotherapist" and "physical therapist" in one register in relation to the Health Care and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41860/15]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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173. To ask the Minister for Health when he will make a decision regarding the titles of "physiotherapist" and "physical therapist" in relation to the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; the recommendation which he has received in this regard from the State regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41907/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 173 together.

I expect that the Physiotherapists Registration Board will soon make the necessary bye-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 therapistis 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 you 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.