asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses who completed their training in this country in each of the past five years.
3.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Training of Nurses.
2.
asked the Minister for Health the number of places available for girls wishing to train as nurses in Irish hospitals where the trainee nurse (a) has to pay fees during her period of training, and (b) does not have to pay fees during her period of training in each of the past five years.
4.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a very large number of Irish girls who are anxious to train as nurses leave this country and train in hospitals in Northern Ireland and Britain owing to the fact that they are unable to afford the high fees charged by many Irish hospitals for training nurses; and if he will take steps to ensure that more places in Irish hospitals are available to trainee nurses without the payment of high fees.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I will take questions Nos. 2, 3 and 4 together. Information is not available as to the number of nurses who complete training but figures have been obtained of the numbers who underwent the various final examinations in nursing held by An Bórd Altranais during each of the years 1959 to 1963, inclusive, and are as follows: 1959, 1149; 1960, 1271; 1961, 1258; 1962, 1196; and 1963, 1263.
There are no official records from which the number of places for female trainees in any year could be compiled. Taking trainees as a whole, however, it may be assumed that the number of new places available from year to year could average approximately the same as the number who undergo the various final examinations. It is estimated that 60 per cent approximately of the nurses undergoing final examinations receive their training in hospitals which do not normally retain from the student any special training fee.
I am not aware that a very large number of Irish girls do their training in hospitals in Great Britain or in the Six Counties for the reason stated. On the other hand I am informed that every general training hospital has a long waiting list of applicants, which would suggest that the charging by hospital authorities of training fees is not a factor in determining trainees to undergo their training in hospitals outside the State.