Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1683. To ask the Minister for Health when pres level 3 medical exams will recommence; and the reason qualified medical doctors that have moved to Ireland but have not completed the pres exams due to the suspension of same are unable to obtain jobs as vaccinators or contact tracers. [18658/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES) is an assessment of a doctor's clinical skills and is required by doctors seeking registration by the Medical Council on its general or trainee specialist division unless they are otherwise exempt. The PRES is conducted by medical schools on behalf of the Medical Council. Unfortunately, due to the onset of Covid-19, medical schools were unable to hold the PRES 3 exams last year. The Medical Council has advised that it has been in contact with the medical schools throughout the year with a view to holding the exams but the continuing restrictions associated with the third wave have impacted the ability to hold these exams given the high number of people involved, including candidates, examiners, patient actors and administration support. As these are clinical examinations, the doctors and patients/actors being in close proximity is unavoidable and would be contrary to social distancing guidelines.

The Medical Council has advised that it has remained in contact with the medical schools and the hosting of these exams is seen as a priority, with all parties agreeing that these exams must go ahead with the necessary arrangements and safety procedures in place. I have been advised that the Council and medical schools are exploring all options and hope to provide an update to candidates in the coming weeks.

The Medical Council understands the frustration felt by many of the doctors who have applied to take this exam, particularly those who are already living in Ireland. However, the Council’s priority is the safety of patients and it important that only doctors who meet the appropriate standards are able to practise medicine unsupervised. The President of the Council has written directly to the doctors waiting to take the exam to update them and to reassure them that all parties are working to find a safe solution.

The workforce requirements associated with rolling out the Covid-19 vaccine programme and contact tracing are a matter for the HSE. Accordingly, I have requested that the HSE respond to the Deputy directly in this regard.