Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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338. To ask the Minister for Health if the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council is proposing to implement a ban on advertising first-aid training courses by self-employed instructors who are not registered as approved contractors even though they are registered with the council; his views on whether a distinction between permitting advertising by one provider and not permitting advertising by another, in circumstances in which both are delivering the same course to the same standards, amounts to a statutory body conferring a special advantage to one at the expense of another; and his views on the fact that no basis has been put forward by the council to establish that a council-registered self-employed instructor who provides training will not observe the required standards and that there is therefore no justification for imposing an advertising ban. [5424/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the statutory body responsible for standards, education and training in the area of pre-hospital emergency care.

Training institutions/individuals who wish to conduct courses and award PHECC qualifications must comply with and meet the Council approved PHECC Education and Training standard commensurate with the particular course they wish to conduct and certificate they seek to award. Training organisations, including sole traders, who wish to deliver training and award PHECC qualifications are required, and are encouraged, to become a Recognised Institution (RI) with PHECC. Only RIs are permitted to advertise PHECC approved courses or use the PHECC logo on promotional material; registration by an individual as an Emergency Medical Services Practitioner does not confer any rights on an individual to conduct courses, award PHECC qualifications or indeed to advertise same.

I have been assured by PHECC that the RI application process is not unduly onerous. PHECC is committed to improving its services for all stakeholders and, in that regard, I understand that an online portal has been developed for applicants seeking RI status. PHECC anticipates that this online portal, which will significantly aid in the communication and interactions between PHECC and prospective applicants, will be launched by early March.