Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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2163. To ask the Minister for Health if she plans to lift the recruitment embargo on physician associates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19566/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The 2025 HSE National Service Plan committed to an independent expert to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the Physician Assistant role internationally and make recommendations for standardisation, scope of practice, and appropriate deployment in Ireland. The Independent Reviewer will look at the role of the Physician Associate/Assistant and make recommendations regarding the governance of the role, scope of practice, and appropriate deployment in Ireland.

The review will consider the benefits and value in the HSE Healthcare system of the role as well as potential risks. The reviewer will give due cognisance to the matters raised and lessons learned in other jurisdictions where this role was introduced. HSE has also paused the recruitment of Physician Assistants. As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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2164. To ask the Minister for Health the details and timeline for the review of the role of physician associates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19567/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.