Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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1265. To ask the Minister for Health the steps that his Department will take to address the fact that applications to CORU for registration by key healthcare workers are taking three years to process (details supplied); the reason that CORU will not provide updates on the status of such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63612/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator responsible for regulating health and social care professionals. CORU’s 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), 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).

At present, the average processing time for applications for recognition is 69 days, while applications for registration are processed in 9.6 weeks on average. 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.

This is part of a suite of innovations that have been initiated following my discussions with CORU. Further steps underway include:

- Full transfer to an online application system

- Increased frequency of regulatory decision making (Registration Board meetings)

- Assignment of additional temporary staff resources

- Recruitment of additional expert assessors in ‘under pressure’ professions

- Development of a Voice over IP (VoIP) solution to improve communications with applicants.

When a new register opens, professionals who have been working within that profession for a specific period of time can apply for registration under grandparenting rules, which provide a two-year window from the opening of a register for applicants to make an application.  

CORU is committed to delivering the highest level of customer service to all registrants and potential registrants, including providing prompt and efficient service and clear and accurate updates on applicants when requested. The Registration team at CORU are available to provide any additional information or clarification required on individual applications and may be contacted at registration@coru.ie.