Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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534. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the differences in standards that prevent speech and language therapists with qualifications from the United Kingdom from having their qualifications recognised in Ireland; to implement a mechanism to allow for the attainment of practical experience in the field of dysphagia in order to allow for the recognition of qualifications from the United Kingdom; to reintroduce training in dysphagia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6822/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The opening of the Speech and Language Therapists Register at CORU on 31 October 2014 marked the start of statutory registration for this profession. After 31 October 2016 the title "speech and language therapist" will be protected following a 2 year transition/grandparenting period to allow all speech and language therapists in Ireland register with the Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board.

Possession of an approved qualification is one of several steps in the registration process and in this context the Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board is also designated as competent authority under Directive 2005/36/EC in Ireland for professional speech and language therapy qualifications. This Directive applies to all EEA nationals who wish to practise any regulated profession in an EEA Member State other than that in which they obtained their professional qualifications. This includes Irish citizens with professional qualifications obtained in any of the other EEA Member States, including the United Kingdom, who seek to return to Ireland to practise their profession.

There is no specific recognition of the profession of speech and language therapy at a European level; rather the Directive provides for the assessment of the qualifications/professional training/post-qualification professional experience of an applicant against the qualifications required to practise in the host Member State (Ireland). The General System of the Directive, which applies in the case of speech and language therapy qualifications, provides for an assessment on a case-by-case basis of the qualifications of an applicant against those required to practise in the host member state if the professional activities covered are comparable. If the professional activities are not comparable then the qualifications cannot be recognised. If the professional activities are comparable but deficits in the qualification are identified, subsequent post-qualification professional experience of the applicant must be considered. If deficits in qualifications remain, the Directive provides for the competent authority to offer the applicant a compensation measure i.e. the choice between a period of adaptation (a placement) and an aptitude test.

I am advised by CORU that compensation measures have been applied to some applicants with non-Irish speech and language therapy qualifications which did not meet the applicable Irish standards - the Standards of Proficiency. Where compensation measures are applied and have been successfully completed, the applicant's qualification is recognised and they are eligible to apply for statutory registration.

Under the Directive, Member States must ensure that an applicant has the possibility of taking the aptitude test not later than six months after the initial decision in which it is imposed. There is no obligation however on the host Member State to provide the period of adaptation which is a period of professional practice in the host Member State under the supervision of a qualified member of that profession, possibly being accompanied by further training.

I am advised that a course in dysphagia is available at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin. This course has clinical practice components and would fall within the Directive definition of a period of adaptation and hence, subject to CORU approval, would be suitable for overseas applicants who have deficits in dysphagia.