Podiatrists Registration Board Return to Practice Bye-Law 2021

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Citation: IR SI 65/2021
• Year: 2021

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 19th February, 2021.

The Podiatrists Registration Board, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 31 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), with the approval of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, hereby makes the following bye-law:

1. (1) This bye-law may be cited as the Podiatrists Registration Board Return to Practice Bye-Law 2021.

(2) This bye-law comes into operation on 16 February 2021.

2. In this bye-law –

“Act” means the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (No. 27 of 2005), as amended from time to time;

“applicant” means a person who wishes to commence practice of the profession of podiatrist after a period of two years or more has passed since that person obtained an approved qualification within the meaning of section 38 of the Act or a person who wishes to resume practice of the profession of podiatrist after not having practised the profession for two years or more;

“attesting signatory” means a registered podiatrist who has been in practice for a minimum period of three years; who is not subject to any current disciplinary proceedings or sanction under the Act and who satisfies such other conditions as the Board may determine from time to time;

“Board” means the Podiatrists Registration Board;

“contact hours” means hours spent by the applicant actively engaged in activities relevant to the profession for the purposes of the period of updating;

“learning plan” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 6;

“period of updating” means the requisite period of time specified in paragraph 4 during which an applicant engages in activities to refresh, update and improve his or her skills, knowledge and performance as are relevant for practice;

“practice” means the practice of the profession;

“profession” means the profession of podiatrist;

“register” means the register of podiatrists established and maintained under section 36 of the Act;

“supervisor” means a registered podiatrist who has been in practice for a minimum period of three years; who is not subject to any current disciplinary proceedings or sanction under the Act and who satisfies such other conditions as the Board may determine from time to time.

3. For the purposes of sections 31, 37 and 38 of the Act, the Board has determined that where a person wishes to commence practice of the profession after a period of two years or more has passed since that person obtained an approved qualification within the meaning of section 38 of the Act or wishes to resume practice of the profession after not having practised the profession for two years or more, the criteria and conditions set out in this bye-law must be satisfied and that person must provide satisfactory evidence of his or her compliance with this bye-law in his or her application for registration.

4. (1) An applicant who has not practised the profession for a period of between 2 and 5 years must complete a period of updating consisting of not less than 210 contact hours.

(2) An applicant who has not practised the profession for any period greater than 5 years must complete a period of updating consisting of not less than 420 contact hours.

(3) An applicant must have completed his or her period of updating within the two year period prior to the date of submission of his or her application, unless the Board permits otherwise.

(4) The period of updating shall consist of contact hours spent by the applicant engaging in:

(a) supervised practice...