Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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549. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will reform the "atypical working visa" to enable doctors providing locum services to reside in the State for longer periods of time. [4799/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) for the support of doctors providing locum services to the hospital sector in the State was established by agreement between the Department of Justice, the Department of Health, the Health Services Executive and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in 2014.

The Scheme was established in order to facilitate the recruitment of locum doctors operating via agency arrangements for short term periods (6 months) who could not be facilitated by the Employment Permit system as agency work is not supported by that route.

It remains open, however, for any individual intending to work as a doctor in the State to secure a longer term permission on that basis via the Employment Permit system operated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, rather than the shorter term Locum services provided by the Atypical Working Scheme.

The wider terms of the Atypical Working Scheme are subject to inter-Departmental and inter-agency agreement by the stakeholders outlined above and are kept under ongoing review.