Under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, registration boards established for the designated professions consist of 13 members, comprising 6 professional members and 7 other members. It has been the policy and practice to appoint lay people to these 7 positions thereby ensuring a lay majority on the boards.
These members include:
(i) 1 representative of the management of the public health sector, the social care sector or both sectors;
(ii) 1 representative of the management of a voluntary or private sector organisation concerned with health or social care;
(iii) 1 representative of third level educational establishments involved in the education and training of members of the profession nominated by the Minister for Education and Science; and
(iv) 4 representatives of the public interest.
My Department, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service (PAS), currently advertises for lay vacancies on registration boards as they arise.