Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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292. To ask the Minister for Health what progress has been made to date between his Department and an organisation (details supplied) regarding its request for the inclusion of certified athletic therapists in the CORU regulation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15871/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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293. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration would be given to the inclusion of certified athletic therapists in the CORU regulation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15872/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator. Seventeen health and social care professions are designated for regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. There are currently registers open for ten professions and CORU is continuing the substantial work required to open the registers for the remaining professions.

A number of representative bodies for unregulated professions have approached the Department seeking to be regulated. The issues to be considered regarding the proportionate degree of regulatory force required to protect the public are complex. In light of the various issues to be considered, and in line with ongoing work in the Department of Health, the Health Research Board was requested to carry out research on behalf of the Department to assist in policy development in this area. The report, “National Approaches to Regulating Health and Social Care Professions”, examines the approaches to the regulation of health and social care professionals internationally and is publicly available on the Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea62b-national-approaches-to-regulating-health-and-social-care-professions/).

My officials are in the process of drawing from this report and other relevant sources to develop a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future. This framework will be informed by an evidence and risk-based approach to regulation in line with requirements set out in the EU Proportionality Test Directive, which was transposed into Irish law on 19 August 2022 (S.I. No. 413/2022). Further information on the Proportionality Test Directive can be found here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/services-directive-handbookproportionality-test-directive-guidance-2022-12-22_en

My officials met with representatives of the professional body for athletic therapy on 15 February 2023 to discuss their concerns around regulation and to provide an update on the Department’s plans to develop a future policy framework.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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294. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to the provision of additional support staff for CORU in view of the high number of different healthcare profession applications received by the multi-profession health regulator; if there is a need to review the funding and provide additional support in order that necessary registration systems can be set up for a whole range of groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15873/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator. Seventeen health and social care professions are designated for regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. There are currently registers open for eleven professions and CORU is continuing the substantial work required to open the registers for the remaining professions.

The table below provides an indication of the level of support provided by the Department of Health over the past number of years to assist CORU fulfil its functions as set out under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. As the Deputy will note, substantial public resources have been provided to CORU to recruit more staff into the organisation and provide for the running of the organisation. In 2023, the level of funding provided to CORU under Subhead E1 has increased by 10%, rising from €5m in 2022 to €5.5m. Only this month, the Department sanctioned an additional 13 posts for CORU throughout its various Departments which should assist with both the recognition and registration processes. Sanction of further staffing resources to CORU will be considered in light of available resources and when CORU’s final Strategic Workforce Plan on its future requirements is received.

*Medical Scientist register opened - transition period ended 2021

**Podiatry register opened - transition period ending March 2023

CORU is also in the process of procuring a system which will integrate the processes of recognition of international qualifications and registration for all applicants and which it is hoped will further reduce administrative requirements and timeframes for applicants. This is in addition to other changes, made with the support of my Department, to reduce the time required for recognition of international qualifications and registration with CORU. These initiatives include:

- Introduction of a dual registration process, allowing those applying for recognition of a qualification received outside the state to simultaneously initiate an application for registration;

- Introduction of an online application system for recognition of international qualifications;

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

- Assignment of additional temporary staff resources;

- Transition to a Voice over IP telephone system to ensure effective and efficient phone support to applicants to reduce email traffic which is slower;

- Transition to a new VPN system to improve connectivity and changes in procedures;

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

- Changes in staffing and organisation.

I hope this information is of some assistance.