Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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409. To ask the Minister for Health his proposals for accommodating the requirements as set out by physiotherapists and physical therapists, with particular reference to their respective positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33806/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Physiotherapists Registration Board established its register under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 with effect from 30 September 2016. This ensures that the specified title of physiotherapist will 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, Deputy Leo Varadkar, having consulted with relevant parties, concluded that protecting the title of physical therapist under the Act as a variant of the title of physiotherapist would 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.

I am implementing these decisions which were welcomed by the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists and the Irish Association of Physical Therapists.

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 2005 Act 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.