Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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721. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the basis for the recruitment embargo on physician associates; to provide an update on the review of this role; the timeline for competition of said review; the number of physician associates currently employed by the HSE; the status of their posts since the review was announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27382/25]

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 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 paused the recruitment of Physician Assistants.

As the assessment of the Physician Assistant role and pause in recruitment are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible. My officials and I continue to engage with colleagues in the HSE in relation to the Physician Assistant role in Ireland.