The Competition Authority found that optometry in Ireland was an example of a profession where competition was generally working well; consumers are therefore largely benefiting from competition in this sector.
We had some concerns about rules which might hinder the supply of optometry services. We therefore made five recommendations designed to further enhance and protect competition in optometry services.
These include:
- changing the composition of the Opticians Board to ensure that it no longer has a majority of optometrists or dispensing opticians; and
- removing unnecessary restrictions on advertising in the profession.
The Opticians Board has abolished its rules that restricted advertising. The Board is due to be subsumed into the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and will have a new composition.
The other recommendations that need to be implemented are in the table below.
Priority Unimplemented Recommendations
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Recommendation
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Addressed To
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Report Reference
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Allow optometrists to provide State-funded eye examinations to children identified at national school exit-screening
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Health Service Executive
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R1.
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|
Review the number of training places for optometrists
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Higher Education Authority
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R2.
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Updated: October 2011
Further information:
Kathryn MacGuill
kmacg@tca.ie
01-8045392