asked the Minister for Health if An Bord Altranais have completed their examination into the feasibility of the establishment of a single central bureau to assist persons seeking places in training schools for student nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter with reference to married women.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Student Nurses.
24.
An Bord Altranais have expressed the view that the establishment of such a bureau would be inadvisable. The reasons given by An Bord were, first, that the bureau would take from the right of hospital authorities, as employers, to select their staff and, secondly, that it would restrict unduly the freedom of students to seek entry to the training hospital of their choice.
An Bord Altranais considered that some modification of the existing system might be made by grouping hospitals on a regional basis for the purpose of selecting student nurses in such a way that each hospital would have a direct say in the selection process.
Recruitment and selection procedures for student nurses will be considered by the working party which is at present examining the nursing services and I am sure they will give consideration to the question of central or regional recruitment.
I am not sure what the Deputy means with reference to married women. They are not precluded from selection for nurse training provided that they satisfy the qualifications that are of general application for such posts.
Is it a fact that in certain instances where married women return to nursing they are frozen at the lowest point in the incremental scale and are not allowed to earn the normal increments of the normal nursing staff?
The Deputy is referring to those who had been nursing, who married and who wish to reenter?
Who have re-entered.
I would have to inquire into that matter to get the information for the Deputy.