Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 11th February, 2020.

The Optical 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. The Optical Registration Board Approved Qualifications Bye-Law 2019 ( S.I. No. 228 of 2019 ) is hereby revoked with effect from the date specified in paragraph 2(2), without prejudice to any applications for registration or restoration received by the board prior to that date.

2. (1) The bye-law may be cited as the Optical Registration Board Approved Qualifications Bye-Law 2020.

(2) The bye-law comes into operation on 6^th February 2020.

3. In the bye-law –

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

“General Division” means the General Division of the register of Dispensing Opticians established under section 36(1) of the Act;

“the Register of Dispensing Opticians” means the register of Dispensing Opticians established under section 36(1) of the Act.

“the Register of Optometrists” means the register of Optometrists established under section 36(1) of the Act.

4. The Optical Registration Board, for the purposes of Section 38(2)(A) of the Act, hereby approves the following qualifications as attesting to the standard of proficiency required for registration in the General Division of the Register of Dispensing Opticians:

(1) Bachelor of Science in Ophthalmic Dispensing, Dublin Institute of Technology; and,

(2) Bachelor of Science in Ophthalmic Dispensing, Technological University Dublin.

5. The Optical Registration Board, for the purposes of Section 38(2)(A) of the Act, hereby approves the following qualifications as attesting to the standard of proficiency required for registration in the Register of Optometrists:

(1) Bachelor of Science in Optometry, Dublin Institute of Technology; and,

(2) Bachelor of Science in Optometry, Technological University Dublin.

GIVEN under the seal of the Optical Registration Board

6 February 2020

SEAMUS BOLAND,

Chairperson, Optical Registration Board

and

PAUL HERSEE,

Member, Optical Registration Board

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

This bye-law identifies the qualifications awarded in the State which are approved by the Optical Registration Board as attesting to the standards of proficiency required for registration in the General Division of the Register of Dispensing Opticians and those required for registration in the Register of Optometrists.