Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
817. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting their CORU registration number; the number who have been waiting up to 16 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5702/21]
View answerCORU (the Health and Social Care Professional Council) is Ireland's multi-profession health and social care regulator. The role of CORU is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professionals. CORU currently regulates over 20,300 health and social care professionals.
I referred the Deputy’s query to CORU for direct reply and am aware that CORU has responded to confirm that there is no outstanding delay in registrations for new applications within the CORU registration process, except where applications received are incomplete or inaccurate. Failure to submit correct documentation is the most common cause of delays in processing applications and every effort is made by CORU to ensure applicants submit the information required to allow for the smooth processing of their application. CORU also advises that there are some applications for existing practitioners who applied under the grand parenting route that are in a queue for processing. However, these applicants are entitled to use the protected title while their application is being processed. Where applications are received with all required documentation, CORU endeavours to process these applications, including eVetting, within 14 weeks; with many applications, in particular those of graduates within the State, completed in a much shorter timeframe.
Further to the information already provided to the Deputy, CORU has confirmed that the average processing time for new applications over the past 6 months is 10 weeks, and CORU continues to actively engage with existing practitioners awaiting registration to ensure that the necessary documentation for a complete application for registration is received. I have asked CORU for information regarding number of applications on hand, and will revert to the Deputy in due course.
