Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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278. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the significant delays being experienced by allied healthcare professionals in receiving their CORU registration resulting in many newly qualified occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and physiotherapists being unable to apply for available jobs and in some cases having to take up job offers abroad; if his attention has been further drawn to professionals who have returned to Ireland and are waiting on their registration to be processed; the steps he will take to rectify the matter given that these professionals are badly needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4846/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health and social care regulator. Its role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended).

An individual can only be admitted to a CORU register when they have demonstrated to their registration board’s satisfaction that they are suitably qualified, have committed to adhere to their profession’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, and are a fit and proper person to engage in the profession, which requires being vetted by the National Vetting Bureau.

In relation to EEA nationals with non-Irish qualifications, CORU must apply Directive 2005/36/EC. The intention of the Directive is to make it easier for certain professionals to practise their professions in European countries other than their own but due safeguards are provided in the assessment of the qualification for public health and safety and consumer protection.

The Directive requires that applications must be acknowledged within one month and the applicant be informed of any incomplete information or missing documentation. A final decision must be communicated to the applicant within 4 months of submission of a complete application. Once a non-Irish qualification has been recognised the applicant can then apply for registration with CORU.

I have consulted with CORU, who have confirmed that there are currently no outstanding delays for new applications within the CORU registration process, except where applications received are incomplete. Failure to submit correct documentation is the most common cause of delays in processing applications and every effort is made by CORU to ensure applicants submit the information required to allow for the smooth processing of their application.

Where applications are received with all required documentation, CORU endeavours to process these applications, including eVetting, within 14 weeks. Many applications especially those of graduates within the State are significantly quicker.

CORU has assured me that they always prioritise those applicants with job offers, especially for critical hospital roles and will continue to do so.

Additionally, in response to the pandemic and in line with Section 98 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020, CORU also created an application process to enable former, registered health sector professionals, who either voluntarily withdrew from the register of their designated profession or were removed due to non-payment of registration fees, to have their registration restored. CORU has restored 26 applicants to the register under these Section 98 Emergency Measures.