Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

435. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding annual recruitment of podiatrists to work in the health service; her views on whether it is adequate to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62338/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

436. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding schemes or incentives in place or under consideration to promote an increase in the number podiatrists working in the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62339/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 436 together.

The number of registered podiatrists in Ireland as maintained by the Podiatrists Registration Board (PRB) at CORU currently stands at 585 (see ).

This represents a substantial increase in the numbers previously reported to the Department:

The number of podiatrists working as Whole-Time-Equivalents (WTEs) in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has also increased:

Podiatrists play a vital role in the operation of specialist diabetes teams within the Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Programme which supports people with complicated type 2 diabetes.