Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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2727. To ask the Minister for Health the alternatives available for workers wishing to register with CORU but find that their employer refuses to complete the necessary forms; if she plans to make it easier for workers to register for CORU in such situations where an employer is unco-operative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41718/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As you will be aware, the Social Care Workers Registration Board (SCWRB) opened its register on the 30 November 2023. This commenced a two-year transitional period for existing practitioners to apply to register after which the title of social care worker will be legally protected.

The Health and Social Care Professionals Act establishes two pathways to apply to a statutory register. The first, under Section 38 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), is for (i) new graduates who hold an approved qualification listed on the SCWRB bye-law, (ii) those returning to practise in the profession and (iii) applicants whose international qualification has been assessed as meeting the standard to practise in the profession in Ireland.

The second transitional pathway is for existing practitioners to apply to the register and this pathway is set out under Section 91(2) of the Act. This pathway is available for two years only from the date the register opens. Under the transitional pathway, to be eligible to apply to register with CORU, an applicant must be able to demonstrate having been engaged in the practice of the profession for a minimum of two out of the five years prior to the date of application.

Once eligibility to apply under Section 91(2) has been confirmed, the applicant must either have a qualification listed opposite the profession in Schedule 3 of the Act or hold a qualification that, in the opinion of the SCWRB, is sufficiently relevant and attests to the standard of the qualifications listed in Schedule 3. If the applicant does not have a relevant qualification but has been practising in the profession an employer may provide an opinion as to their competence. An employer opinion can be accepted by the SCWRB in lieu of a qualification once it complies with Guidelines issued by the Health and Social Care Professionals Council for Employers (www.coru.ie/social-care-workers/employers/employer-responsibilities-for-social-care-workers/). It is the decision of an employer to provide an opinion of competence for the purposes of registration.

If an applicant is eligible to apply but does not have a relevant qualification or an employer’s opinion of competence, the SCWRB may direct the applicant to undertake an Assessment of Professional Competence (AoPC). This is required for public protection, by ensuring that the applicant has the core knowledge, skills and competences to practise safely. This is arranged by CORU and an administrative fee is associated with this test. The AoPC is now available and a number of candidates have already successfully completed the AoPC and joined the register. There will be exam sittings available in October and December 2025 with additional sittings in 2026 to facilitate applicants seeking to join the social care worker register via this pathway. More detail can be found in the assessment guidance document found here:

www.coru.ie/health-and-social-care-professionals/registration/registration-requirements/assessment-of-professional-competence/social-care-workers-aopc-guidance-v6.pdf

CORU has engaged extensively with employers on how they can support their employees’ application to the register for social care workers. This includes a dedicated webpage (www.coru.ie/social-care-workers/) for social care workers and guidance for employers providing an opinion of competence.

CORU has confirmed that the SCWRB has received applications relying on an employer’s opinion of competence from a broad range of service providers in the statutory, voluntary, community and private social care sector working with children, families and persons with disability. However, it is the decision of an employer whether to provide an opinion of competence or not for the purpose of an individual’s application to register.

CORU has also confirmed that some applicants have advised it of their employers’ reluctance to provide an opinion of competence, and CORU engage through various employer representative bodies to support employers’ engagement with the application process for existing practitioners to apply to register. It would seem that an employer’s decision not to provide an opinion is not specific to any one sector and applications have been received and processed by CORU from organisations referenced in the correspondence received by you in regard to this matter.

It would be helpful if specific examples of an employer’s reluctance to provide a letter of competence could be provided to the Department in order that this issue could be further investigated with a view to resolving any potential issues that may be arising in this regard. As outlined above, there are many avenues available to those currently working as social care workers to register with CORU in advance of the transition period closing at end-November this year.