Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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1661. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the backlog in re-registering Irish doctors who seek to return to work in Ireland; and if steps will be taken to urgently clear the backlog in view of the urgent needs at present. [2011/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Medical Council is the statutory agency responsible for the registration and regulation of doctors in Ireland. In order to protect patients, it has a responsibility to ensure that all doctors registered to practise medicine in Ireland meet the requirements to practise, as set out in its legislation.

I am advised that doctors seeking to restore their names to the register following voluntary withdrawal or removal from the register for non-payment of fees, are required to submit an application to restore through their Medical Council online accounts. In support of their applications, doctors need to provide a copy of their current passport and certificates of good standing from all countries in which they hold registration. I understand that doctors generally apply to restore to either the Specialist or the General Divisions of the Register.

In relation to Specialist restoral applications, the processing time is approximately 2- 3 weeks for correctly presented applications. The Council has confirmed that all restoral applications for 2022 are either finalised or undergoing assessment.

In relation to General Division restoral applications, the typical processing time is approximately 3–4 weeks. However, the Council has advised that the current processing time for these applications is 6 weeks due to a substantial increase in the number of restoral applications received. The Medical Council has advised that every effort is being made to expedite these applications and it is expected that turnaround times for these applications will be restored to normal wait times shortly.