Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37989/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that applications for the recognition of non-Irish qualifications in psychology are assessed under Directive 2005/36/EC. Under Statutory Instrument No. 8 of 2017, which transposes the Directive into Irish law, the Minister for Health is the competent authority for the assessment of psychology qualifications and I am advised on applications by the Psychological Society of Ireland. The process is administered by the Validation Unit on my behalf. 

Directive 2005/36/EC provides a mechanism under which non-Irish professional qualifications can be considered for recognition but it is considered to be a very complicated piece of legislation. While the intention of the Directive is to make it easier for certain professionals to practise their professions in European countries other than their own, due safeguards are provided in the assessment of the qualification for public health and safety and consumer protection; this is why the process can take a number of months.

The Directive provides that applications must be acknowledged within one month and applicants advised of decisions within four months. For this reason, applicants are advised not to apply for positions until their qualifications have been recognised.

As the applicant was advised in the Validation Unit's letter of 26 June 2018, decisions on applications must be made within four months of acknowledgement of a complete application; accordingly, the applicant will receive a decision on this application before 26 October 2018. 

While I appreciate that the applicant is anxious to receive a decision on her application, I trust, however, that the applicant will understand that, in the interest of fairness, applications are dealt with in the order in which they are received.