Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1354. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Ukrainian nurses, doctors, teachers, dentists, consultants, orthodontists, psychologists, physiotherapists, professors and pharmacists that have had their qualifications recognised in order to fully participate in employment positions in County Donegal in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43963/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not hold the data in question.
Where a person wishes to practice a regulated profession in Ireland, they must engage with the relevant Competent Authority with responsibility for that profession to seek the recognition of their qualifications. In the cases of nurses, doctors and teachers, for example, this would be the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), the Medical Council and the Teaching Council respectively. These authorities would hold the relevant data in respect of the professions under their remit. A list of regulated professions in Ireland, their corresponding competent authority and the relevant contact information for each authority is available online at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/d7527-professional-qualifications-recognition/#contacts.
My Department is supporting the work of these Competent Authorities by sharing best practice material supplied by the European Commission in relation to the recognition of professional qualifications of Ukrainian people in Ireland. This includes working with and supporting these Authorities as they implement the EU Commission Recommendation 2022/554 on the recognition of qualifications for people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This Recommendation provides Member States' authorities with guidance and practical advice to ensure a quick, fair and flexible recognition process for Ukrainian refugees with the aim of helping those fleeing the war to find a path to meaningful employment, while facilitating their integration.
In addition, these Competent Authorities have been advised of further information resources which are available to support their work from NARIC Ireland (www.naric.ie), which is hosted by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). NARIC Ireland provides advice on the academic recognition of a foreign qualification by comparing it to a major award type and level on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The QQI NARIC database currently lists 21 Ukrainian qualifications, comparable to levels 3-10 on the NFQ, including general professional, further and higher education awards. NARIC Ireland is working with the NARIC network across Europe to continue building the list of Ukrainian qualifications. The NARIC Guide has recently been translated into Ukrainian and the Guide is also available in Polish, English and Russian, which many Ukrainian citizens also speak.
The NARIC service also helps to inform employers to determine if an applicant holds the academic qualifications necessary for a particular job or employment opportunity.
Further information resources for Ukrainians in respect of the recognition of qualifications in Ireland can be found online here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/320e9-employment-and-education/#employment-and-self-employment.
