Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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617. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department will clarify a matter (details supplied). [48094/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator for regulating health and social care professionals. The role of CORU 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), including setting the standards that health and social care professionals must meet to be eligible for registration and maintaining registers of persons who meet those standards There are two forms of application to CORU: applications for the recognition of qualifications received outside the State and applications for registration.

Professional qualifications awarded outside the State are assessed through a process of “recognition” which involves expert assessment of a qualification’s alignment with the standards of proficiency required in Ireland, and assessment of professional experience and lifelong learning where required.

Where a health and social care professional qualifies outside the State and applies to register in Ireland, they must apply for the recognition of their qualification. EU/EEA applicants have the right to have their qualifications assessed in accordance with the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 and Directive 2005/36/EC on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017 (SI No 8 of 2017). Once a complete file has been submitted to CORU, i.e., one containing all the required documentation, a decision must issue within four months.

The Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022 has been introduced to the Oireachtas. The primary purpose of the Bill is to address an issue which currently prevents holders of UK medical degrees from accessing medical intern training posts in Ireland. The Bill does not affect the recognition process that applies to those who seek to practise as Medical Scientists.

I met with the Chairperson and CEO of CORU last year and raised the issue of timeframes for the recognition of qualifications and registration applications. Following our discussion, several measures have been initiated by CORU aimed at further reducing timeframes.

Until last year applicants were required to complete the recognition process before initiating the registration process unless they had confirmed job offers. All applicants are now invited to initiate an application for registration as soon as they have submitted a complete application file to the recognition department. This will have the effect of reducing the period of time required to both complete the recognition and registration process.

My Department will continue to support CORU in achieving its strategic vision and improving timeframes for all applicants in the future.