Regulatory Bodies

Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Questions (2159, 2192, 2193, 2194, 2195, 2196, 2225, 2226, 2227, 2228, 2229)

Tom Brabazon

Question:

2159. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health if CORU will bring the athletic rehab therapy sector under its regulatory remit. [74384/25]

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2192. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 27 November 2025, the timeline for the development by her Department, of a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future; the organisations with whom it is intended to consult with in drawing up the framework; the timeline for these consultations; whether she expects a revised policy to emerge as a consequence of any new framework; the date she expects any new regulatory framework or policy to be in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74552/25]

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Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

2193. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 27 November 2025, the precise process her Department has in place for considering whether a profession should be regulated by CORU; to provide a list of professions that have sought to be regulated since the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended) was enacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74553/25]

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Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

2194. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 27 November 2025, where a medical profession has sought to be regulated by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), and where a decision not to regulate such a profession at this juncture has been made, the process by which her Department has arrived at such a decision and rationale for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74554/25]

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Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

2195. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 27 November 2025, if she is aware of an organisation (details supplied), representing a healthcare profession that has been seeking to be regulated for over 15 years; whether it is proposed to regulate this profession as requested; the specific reasons no progress has been made on this request; her views that non-regulation of this profession to date poses a risk to patient safety, or puts this profession at a disadvantage over similar professions which are regulated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74555/25]

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Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

2196. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of Athletic Therapy as a profession; the qualifications required to become a certified athletic therapist; the medical conditions which such therapists are qualified to manage and the difference between athletic therapy and physiotherapy; the potential for both professions to be employed by the health care sector to help reduce waiting lists for a range of musculoskeletal treatments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74556/25]

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Michael Cahill

Question:

2225. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 27 November 2025, the timeline for the development by her Department, of a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future; the organisations with whom it is intended to consult with in drawing up this framework; the timeline for these consultations; whether she expects a revised policy to emerge as a consequence of any new framework; the date by which she expects any new regulatory framework or policy to be in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74738/25]

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Michael Cahill

Question:

2226. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 27 November 2025, the precise process her Department has in place for considering whether a profession should be regulated by CORU; to provide a list of professions that have sought to be regulated since the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended) was enacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74739/25]

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Michael Cahill

Question:

2227. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 27 November 2025, where a medical profession has sought to be regulated by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended),where a decision not to regulate such a profession at this juncture has been made, the process by which her Department has arrived at such a decision and rationale for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74740/25]

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Michael Cahill

Question:

2228. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 27 November 2025, if she is aware of an organisation (details supplied), representing a healthcare profession that has been seeking to be regulated for over 15 years; whether it is proposed to regulate this profession as requested; the specific reasons why no progress has been made on this request; her views that non-regulation of this profession to date poses a risk to patient safety, or puts this profession at a disadvantage over similar professions which are regulated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74741/25]

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Michael Cahill

Question:

2229. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of athletic therapy as a profession; the qualifications required to become a certified athletic therapist; the medical conditions which such therapists are qualified to manage and the difference between athletic therapy and physiotherapy; the potential for both professions to be employed by the health care sector to help reduce waiting lists for a range of musculoskeletal treatments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74742/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2159, 2192, 2193, 2194, 2195, 2196, 2225, 2226, 2227, 2228 and 2229 together.

As the Deputies are aware and further to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 27 November 2025, work is ongoing in my department to develop a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future.

The framework will modernise our approach to professional regulation both in terms of how decisions are made regarding professional regulation and the ways in which we regulate professions. The framework will be informed by an evidence and risk-based approach to regulation in line with requirements set out in the EU Proportionality Test Directive.

The issues to be considered regarding the proportionate degree of regulatory force required to protect the public are complex and this is therefore a significant project requiring considerable research and engagement with relevant stakeholders.

There are a number of professions designated under the existing regulatory framework that will continue to move towards regulation. Regulation of additional individual professions, including athletic therapists, is not planned until the risk-based assessment framework is place in compliance with best practice, international evidence, and the Proportionality Test Directive.

Once the framework is in place, professions will then be assessed. Work to develop the framework and to assess professions is likely to take a number of years.

It is envisaged that in future, following a risk-based assessment of a profession, if statutory regulation is deemed necessary and proportionate, a decision would then be made regarding which of the six regulators should regulate the profession.

My officials plan to engage with relevant stakeholders, including professional bodies representing unregulated professions, professional and service regulators and service users, regarding the development of the framework in the coming months.

Athletic therapists are among the professions which have approached the Department seeking regulation. Other professions seeking regulation include:

• Acupuncturists

• Audiologists

• Chiropractors

• Clinical Measurement Physiologists

• Clinical Scientists

• Creative Arts Therapists

• Exercise Professionals

• Health Care Assistants

• Hypnotherapists

• Music Therapists

• Nutrition Therapists

• Operating Department Practitioners

• Osteopaths

• Pharmacy Technicians

• Physician Associates

• Play Therapists

• Prosthetists and Orthotists

• Reflexologists

• Relationship Mentors

It should be noted that statutory regulation forms a part of a system of assurance that the Department utilises to mitigate risk posed to the public by the practise of health and social care professions. Many professions employed in the health service, including in the HSE and the publicly funded sector, are not subject to statutory regulation. For example, audiologists, clinical measurement physiologists, medical physicists, play therapists and play specialists, and perfusionists are among the non-regulated groups which are currently employed by the HSE.

Similarly, many private health insurers cover services provided by non-regulated professions, such as counselling, osteopathy and acupuncture for example. Such decisions are matters for the insurers.

I can confirm that I am aware of Athletic Therapy as a profession and that department officials have engaged with the profession’s professional body, Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI). Department officials also attended the World Federation of Athletic Therapy and Training’s World Congress which was hosted by ARTI in October 2025 in Maynooth.

Details of ARTI’s certification process to become a certified athletic therapist are set out on the ARTI website at Certifications | ARTI (www.arti.ie/certification)

Physiotherapist is a legally protected professional title in Ireland in line with the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. The Standards of Proficiency for Physiotherapists are set down by CORU and are available on their website [prb-standards-of-proficiency-for-physiotherapists.pdf]

The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to place a greater focus on exercise and wellbeing as a preventative and rehabilitation measure and examine ways to support the provision of community based clinical exercise programmes nationwide.

Contribution to these community-based exercise programmes may be from a range of professionals with expertise in physical activity. Department officials work with service delivery colleagues in identifying skills gaps on an ongoing basis and if a requirement for different models of care is identified by services, the department will work with relevant stakeholders.