3858. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of social care workers who have applied for registration with CORU (details supplied); the time it will take to process these applications; the number of CORU staff working on these applications; the number of cases in which a decision have been made; the number of existing practitioners currently working while their applications are processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58042/26]

As the queries raised are operational matters, officials in my Department have contacted CORU and asked that a response to the questions raised be communicated directly to the Deputy.

With regard to the number of existing practitioners currently working while their applications are processed, practitioners who applied to CORU under the 'grandparenting' provisions of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended) i.e. Section 91 applicants, are entitled to continue working as social care workers while awaiting a decision on their application.