167. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the protection of the title physical therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40940/15]

175. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce regulations to protect the professional names of physical therapy and physiotherapy for medically qualified physiotherapists, thus bringing Ireland into line with the international professional body for physiotherapists and the world confederation for physical therapy; why this has not been done to date; his views that the failure to clearly regulate the use of such terms confuses the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40974/15]

198. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to protect the public by protecting the titles of physiotherapist and physical therapists in one register under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41123/15]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 167, 175 and 198 together.

I expect that the Physiotherapists Registration Board will soon make the necessary by-laws under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 to allow it to establish its register early next year. On this basis, the title of physiotherapist will be protected for the exclusive use of the board's registrants when the register's 2 year transitional period ends in 2018.

I am currently examining the issue of also protecting the title of physical therapist under the Act. In other English speaking countries, the title of physical therapist is often used by physiotherapists. In Ireland, however, the title is used by a number of practitioners who are not physiotherapists but who are competing with physiotherapists in the private sector in the provision of musculoskeletal therapies.

Earlier this year I wrote to a number of relevant organisations regarding my proposal to protect the title of physical therapist as a variant of the title of physiotherapist and invited them to submit their views. The submissions are now being examined and I expect that I will make a decision on the matter before the end of the year. As you can appreciate there are many factors to consider. However, I can assure the House that my main concern will be to protect the public when it comes to decisions on this matter.