Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
2025. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to recognise qualifications for occupational therapists accredited in non-European Union jurisdictions to enable them to work in public healthcare and clinical settings. [41802/22]
View answer2026. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to recognise qualifications for speech and language therapists accredited in non-European Union jurisdictions to enable them to work in public healthcare and clinical settings. [41803/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2025 and 2026 together.
CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator for regulating health and social care professionals. CORU’s role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), including setting the standards that health and social care professionals must meet to be eligible for registration and maintaining registers of persons who meet those standards. There are two forms of application to CORU: applications for the recognition of qualifications received outside the State and applications for registration.
Professional qualifications, including for speech and language therapists and occupational therapists, awarded outside the State are assessed through a process of “recognition” which involves expert assessment of a qualification’s alignment with the standards of proficiency required in Ireland, and assessment of professional experience and lifelong learning where required. Where a health and social care professional qualifies outside the State and applies to register in Ireland, they must apply for the recognition of their qualification. EU/EEA applicants have the right to have their qualifications assessed in accordance with the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 and Directive 2005/36/EC on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017 (SI No 8 of 2017). Once a complete file has been submitted to CORU, i.e., one containing all the required documentation, a decision must issue within four months.
CORU has provided the following table with the average processing time for recognition applications, from the submission of a complete application:
|
Therapeutic Professions |
Average days to Decision Jan-mid June 2022 |
|
Occupational Therapist |
74 |
|
Speech and Language Therapist |
84 |
|
Overall (all professions) |
85 |
I met the Chairperson and CEO of CORU in 2021 and raised the issue of timeframes for the recognition of qualifications and registration applications. Following our discussion, several measures have been initiated by CORU aimed at further reducing timeframes.
Until 2021 applicants were required to complete the recognition process before initiating the registration process unless they had confirmed job offers. All applicants are now invited to initiate an application for registration as soon as they have submitted a complete application file to the recognition department. This will have the effect of reducing the period of time required to both complete the recognition and registration process.
This is part of a suite of innovations that have been initiated following my discussions with CORU. Further steps underway include:
- Full transfer to an online application system
- Increased frequency of regulatory decision-making (Registration Board meetings)
- Assignment of additional temporary staff resources
- Recruitment of additional expert assessors in ‘under pressure’ professions and
- Development of a Voice over IP (VoIP) solution to improve communications with applicants.
My Department will continue to support CORU in achieving its strategic vision and improving timeframes for all applicants in the future.
Question No. 2026 answered with Question No. 2025.
