Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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610. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 26 April 2023, if nursing degrees obtained in India will meet the criteria for renewal of the general employment permit for healthcare assistants, given that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland accepts these degrees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22430/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment provided access to the General Employment Permit for the role of Health Care Assistant in June 2021. The framework agreed with the Department of Health included the requirement for the permit holder to achieve a relevant Level 5 Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) qualification after two years employment in the State.

Responding to the need whereby some Health Care Assistant staff who are availing of the employment permits framework have other qualifications, aligned to the care industry including from India but not as Health Care Assistants it was decided that a comparable healthcare qualification as outlined in the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) NARIC Ireland framework at Level 6, 7 and 8 would be acceptable for employment permit purposes if the clinical lead in the organisation or the employer provides assurances that the staff member has demonstrated the skills, experience, and knowledge to carry out the role competently as compared to those staff members with the QQI L5 qualification.

A “sign-off” from the clinical lead in the organisation or employer is required and a standard form will be available for this purpose. The Department of Health is engaging with Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment on the development of an appropriate form for submission to Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment to accompany applications for renewals of health care assistant employment permits along with an information bulletin to advise relevant employers and permit holders. Work is in progress and the standard form and further information will be available soon.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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611. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1769 of 18 April 2023, the date on which the nursing and midwifery policy unit will meet with an organisation (details supplied) to discuss concerns regarding the overseas aptitude test for general nursing; if he will attend this meeting or meet with the organisation separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22431/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that some dates have been suggested for the meeting between the Nursing and Midwifery Policy Unit in my Department and the organisation in question. I expect the meeting will take place shortly and I look forward to being briefed afterwards.