As the Deputy may be aware, CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator. Seventeen health and social care professions are designated for regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. There are currently registers open for eleven professions and CORU is continuing the substantial work required to open the registers for the remaining professions.
The table below provides an indication of the level of support provided by the Department of Health over the past number of years to assist CORU fulfil its functions as set out under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. As the Deputy will note, substantial public resources have been provided to CORU to recruit more staff into the organisation and provide for the running of the organisation. In 2023, the level of funding provided to CORU under Subhead E1 has increased by 10%, rising from €5m in 2022 to €5.5m. Only this month, the Department sanctioned an additional 13 posts for CORU throughout its various Departments which should assist with both the recognition and registration processes. Sanction of further staffing resources to CORU will be considered in light of available resources and when CORU’s final Strategic Workforce Plan on its future requirements is received.
|
Year
|
Number of Professions Regulated
|
Total number of staff at year end
|
Department of Health Funding - Vote 38 Subhead E1
|
Department of Health Funding - Vote 38 Subhead L (Capital)
|
Total Department Funding
|
|
|
|
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
|
2022
|
11
|
79
|
5,000,000
|
98,993
|
5,098,993
|
|
2021
|
11**
|
78
|
4,470,000
|
6,989
|
4,476,989
|
|
2020
|
10
|
62
|
3,250,000
|
189,990
|
3,439,990
|
|
2019
|
10*
|
60
|
3,495,000
|
236,211
|
3,731,211
|
|
2018
|
9
|
48
|
3,205,000
|
1,134,890
|
4,339,890
|
|
|
|
|
19,420,000
|
1,667,073
|
21,087,073
|
*Medical Scientist register opened - transition period ended 2021
**Podiatry register opened - transition period ending March 2023
CORU is also in the process of procuring a system which will integrate the processes of recognition of international qualifications and registration for all applicants and which it is hoped will further reduce administrative requirements and timeframes for applicants. This is in addition to other changes, made with the support of my Department, to reduce the time required for recognition of international qualifications and registration with CORU. These initiatives include:
- Introduction of a dual registration process, allowing those applying for recognition of a qualification received outside the state to simultaneously initiate an application for registration;
- Introduction of an online application system for recognition of international qualifications;
- Increased frequency of regulatory decision making (Registration Board meetings);
- Assignment of additional temporary staff resources;
- Transition to a Voice over IP telephone system to ensure effective and efficient phone support to applicants to reduce email traffic which is slower;
- Transition to a new VPN system to improve connectivity and changes in procedures;
- Recruitment of additional expert assessors in ‘under pressure’ professions.
- Changes in staffing and organisation.
I hope this information is of some assistance.
