asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to stop people with inadequate training from taking up chiropody.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Practice of Chiropody.
4.
The answer is in the negative. In order to do what the Deputy mentions, it would be necessary to introduce legislation and I do not think that this would be justified in the absence of evidence that such a measure was essential to safeguard the public health.
A three-year chiropody course is recognised by the Medical Association. There are people who take a correspondence course and there may be a danger to the public if they become quacks. I think some form of control in the profession is advisable such as that exercised in relation to dentists and other people.
I am advised that a risk of this sort is not very serious. I do not think we should use a steam-hammer to crack a nut by introducing legislation to ensure that people who want to cut corns will have a diploma to do so.