Vol. 466 No. 1
83 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, he will take to ensure that there is proper integration between the diploma course in nurse training care and the additional nurse training being conducted in Cork city hospitals; and whether this integration will afford an opportunity for the current intake of students to receive automatic admission to the degree training course. [10755/96]
Limerick East): The new registration/diploma programme in nursing leads to registration with An Bord Altranais and a diploma in nursing from the associated third level institute. It complies with the rules and syllabus of An Bord Altranais and relevant EU directives. The programme continues to be delivered in the schools of nursing. Students on the traditional programme are part of the rostered workforce and are paid a salary while students on the new programme are supernumerary to service needs and receive a maintenance grant.
The registration diploma programme is commencing in the Cork Voluntary Hospitals School of Nursing this autumn and that school took in its last traditional student intake last month. It is not envisaged that the integration of the new students in the autumn will present any difficulties for the school.
Students who successfully complete the registration/diploma programme will be eligible to undertake one further academic year of study, at their own expense, leading to the award of a degree. This is an optional year and is not a requirement for registration or employment.
The one academic year degree programmes which are currently being developed will be open to existing nurses and those student nurses still following the traditional programme on the basis of short access courses and minimum post-registration experience. The possession of a diploma in nursing will not be a requirement for admission.
