Rory O'Hanlon
Question:389 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Health and Children when legislation will be introduced to regulate the paramedical professions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8566/98]
Written Answers. - Paramedical Professions.
Rory O'Hanlon
Question:433 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will introduce legislation for the State registration of chartered physiotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8861/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 433 together.
The question of establishing a system of statutory registration for designated health and social professions has been under consideration by my Department for some time. The groups concerned are physiotherapists, social workers, radiographers, chiropodists, care workers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, environmental health officers and medical laboratory technicians.
However, despite various initiatives over recent years, great difficulties still remain in devising a scheme which would meet all the requirements of the various professions and which would provide for a system of self-financing self-regulation.
This issue is once again being examined within my Department at present, with other models for statutory registration being investigated in an effort to overcome the difficulties in question.