David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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2182. To ask the Minister for Health whether she has considered alternative pathways for professional recognition for section 91 applicants with CORU registration boards where an employer does not provide adequate evidence for the applicant, or where an employer does not engage with the process, but the applicant can otherwise demonstrate their employment and professional credentials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44999/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, employer input into the registration process under Section 91 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 applies only to the social care worker profession.

The Social Care Workers Registration Board (SCWRB) officially opened its register on 30 November 2023, marking the beginning of a two-year transitional period during which existing practitioners can apply for registration under Section 91 of the Act. After this period (30 November 2025), the title of ‘Social Care Worker’ will be legally protected and the registration route through Section 91 will no longer apply.

Once eligibility to apply has been confirmed, i.e., applicant has demonstrated 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, 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 . 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. 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

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 www.coru.ie/social-care-workers/employers/ 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 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 a number of routes 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.