Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2015
868. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the establishing of regulation boards in professions provided in section 26(1) of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. [22387/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position regarding the establishment of registration boards under Section 26(1) of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended) is as follows:
A total of eight registration boards have been established to date; six are currently operating for the original designated professions of dietitian, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, radiographer, social worker and speech and language therapist. A seventh, the Social Care Workers Registration Board, was recently set up and its inaugural meeting took place on 25 May 2015. The eighth, the Optical Registration Board, was established earlier this year to regulate the professions of optometrist and dispensing optician. These optical professions, currently regulated under the Opticians Act 1956, will be regulated later this year under the 2005 Act on foot of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. This implements a Government Decision on the rationalisation of State Agencies and brings to 14 the number of professions designated for regulation by the Health and Social Care Professionals Council.
Registration boards are yet to be established for the remaining five designated professions of clinical biochemist, medical scientist, orthoptist, podiatrist and psychologist. It is hoped to have these registration boards established by the end of 2016.
