Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 11th March, 2011.

The Minister for Health and Children, in exercise of the powers conferred on her by Section 3 of the European Communities Act, 1972 (No. 27 of 1972), as amended by the European Communities Act 2007 (No. 18 of 2007), hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) (Directive 2005/36/EC) (Amendment) Regulations, 2011.

(2) These Regulations shall come into operation on 10 March 2011.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations-

"Health and Social Care Professionals Council" means the Council established under Section 6(1) of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act (2005);

"Principal Regulations" means the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) (Directive 2005/36/EC) Regulations, 2008 (Statutory Instrument No. 166 of 2008);

"Professional Qualifications Regulations" means the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (Directive 2005/36/EC) Regulations, 2008 (Statutory Instrument No. 139 of 2008);

"Social Workers Registration Board of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council" means the Social Workers Registration Board established under Section 26(1) of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act (2005).

Alteration of Designation of Competent Authority

3. Pursuant to Regulation 3(3) of the Principal Regulations, Regulation 3(2)(f) of the Principal Regulations is amended by the substitution of "the Social Workers Registration Board of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council" for "the National Social Work Qualifications Board".

Amendment to the Principal Regulations

4. Regulation 3(2), of the Principal Regulations is amended by the deletion of "to grant approvals" in the fourth line.

Amendment to the Professional Qualifications Regulations

5. Schedule 1 of the Professional Qualifications Regulations is amended by the substitution of "Social Workers Registration Board of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council" for "National Social Work Qualifications Board".

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Health and Children,

8 March 2011.

MARY COUGHLAN,

Minister for Health and Children.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

The purpose of these Regulations is:

(i) to amend Statutory Instruments No. 139 and No. 166 of 2008, in relation to the profession of Social Worker, to alter the designation of competent authority from the National Social Work Qualifications Board to the Social Workers Registration Board of the Health and Social Care Professionals Council; and

(ii) for competent authorities designated under Statutory Instrument No. 166 of 2008 to carry out the full range of functions prescribed in Directive 2005/36/EC.