S.I. No. 50/2026 - Approved Qualifications for Social Workers Bye-Law 2026

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 20th February, 2026.

The Social Workers 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 and the Minister, hereby makes the following bye-law:

1. The Approved Qualification for Social Workers Bye-Law 2022 (S.I. 311 of 2022) 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 Approved Qualifications for Social Workers Bye-Law 2026.

(2) The bye-law comes into operation 17th February 2026.

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);

“the Register” means the register of the Social Workers Registration Board established under section 36(1)(a) of the Act.

4. The Social Workers 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:

(1) Master of Social Work, University College Cork;

(2) Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies, University College Cork;

(3) Masters of Social Science (Social Work), National University of Ireland, University College Dublin;

(4) Graduate Diploma in Social Work, National University of Ireland, University College Dublin

(5) Masters in Social Work, University of Dublin, Trinity College;

(6) Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work, University of Dublin, Trinity College;

(7) Masters in Social Work, University of Galway;

(8) Bachelor of Social Work, University College Cork;

(9) Bachelor in Social Studies, University of Dublin, Trinity College

(10) Master of Arts in Social Work, Institute of Technology Sligo

(11) Masters in Science (Social Work), National University of Ireland, University College Dublin;

(12) Professional Master of Social Work, National University of Ireland, University College Dublin.

(13) Master of Social Science (Social Work), National University of Ireland, Maynooth

(14) Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work, National University of Ireland, Maynooth

(15) Master of Arts in Social Work, Atlantic Technological University

(16) Master of Arts (Social Work), University of Galway

(17) Master of Arts in Social Work, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest

The Minister for Health approves the making of this bye-law.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Health,

22 January, 2026.

JENNIFER CARROLL MACNEILL,

Minister for Health.

GIVEN under the seal of the Social Workers Registration Board,

17 February, 2026.

MIRIAM O’CALLAGHAN,

Chairperson, Social Workers Registration Board

and

HUGH FARRELL

Member, Social Workers 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 Social Workers Registration Board as attesting to the standard of proficiency required for registration with the Social Workers Registration Board.