Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on pathways to CORU registration for social care students studying in the private sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51729/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Social Care Programmes are provided across the tertiary system on a full and part time basis in both publicly funded institutes and by two private providers.

CORU is an independent Regulator. The Department of Health have advised my Department that to join the register existing professionals and current students will either need to:

1. have undertaken an approved education programme, or

2. to have obtained 2 years of professional practice in the 5-year period prior to 30 November 2025, in addition to passing a competency test.

Further information in relation to these “grand-parenting” provisions for existing practitioners, should be sought from the Department of Health or CORU directly, as these matters are not within the remit or responsibility of the Minister or the Department.

Earlier this year I wrote to all relevant publicly-funded HEIs and asked that full and transparent communications be made with all social care students regarding entry on to the Register.