John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to implement in full the decision taken by his immediate predecessor to protect the two titles of physiotherapist and physical therapist in one register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30646/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that I will be implementing in full the decisions taken earlier this year by my predecessor, Leo Varadkar T.D., that the titles of physiotherapist and physical therapist would be protected under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 and that there would be only one register for the profession. This was welcomed by the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists.

Last month, the Physiotherapists Registration Board established its register under the Act with effect from 30 September 2016. This ensures that the specified title of physiotherapistwill be protected for the exclusive use of registrants when the register’s two-year transitional period ends in September 2018.

Earlier this year, my predecessor, Leo Varadkar T.D., having consulted with relevant parties, concluded that protecting the title of physical therapistunder the Act as a variant of the title of physiotherapistwould be the best way to eliminate the ongoing risk of title confusion and the consequent risks to public safety. He also decided to allow particular existing users of the title of physical therapist, who are not physiotherapists but who hold qualifications of a certain standard, to continue to use the title.

New grand-parenting provisions will allow such practitioners to apply, on a once-off basis and for a limited period, to register in the physiotherapists register, confining their practise to musculoskeletal therapies.

Preparation of the necessary legislation to give effect to these decisions is now at an advanced stage. The legislation will involve the making of regulations under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 in tandem with the enactment of necessary amendments to that Act to allow existing qualified title users to continue to use the title. It is my intention to seek Government approval to include these amendments to the Act in a Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill that is currently being drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government.