Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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628. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to including the advanced health care apprenticeship on the list of approved courses as per the Programme for Government's plan to create career pathways for healthcare assistants. [53329/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Programme for Government 2025 commits to providing a career pathway for Health Care Assistants (HCA). The Health Service Executive career pathways can be accessed via the below link. It outlines vertical and horizontal including Nurse Sponsorship for health care support staff.

careerhub.hse.ie/pathways_hca/

See also: healthservice.hse.ie/about-us/onmsd/education-and-continuous-professional-development/cpd-for-nurses-and-midwives/onmsd-sponsorship-schemes/public-health-service-employees.html

The HSE employ Health Care Assistants across both acute and community services. The eligibility criteria has been developed to ensure that suitably qualified individuals can avail of work within services. There are multiple entry routes to become a HCA, with Further Education & Training (FET) and Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses delivered in person and online. Qualifications at QQI Level 5, (Major Award) are a requirement for entry to the role.

The criteria below incorporates any equivalent qualification that is comparable to QQI Level 5. Therefore, individuals who attain qualifications through the advanced health care apprenticeship programme or individuals with relevant programmes of study greater than QQI Level 5 are eligible to apply for a role as a Health Care Assistant in the HSE.

Eligibility Criteria to work in one of the Public Hospitals is as follows:

(a) Candidates must have at the closing date for receipt of applications:

(i) The relevant health skills QQI (formerly FETAC) level 5 qualification.

OR

(ii) An equivalent relevant health care qualification or a comparable healthcare qualification as outlined in the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) NARIC Ireland framework.

OR

(iii) Be currently employed as a Health Care Assistant or a comparable role.

AND

(b) Candidates must have the personal competence and capacity to properly discharge the duties of the role.

The HSE does not currently have a role/grade titled 'advanced healthcare assistant practitioner'.