Michael Ring
Question:589 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will abolish the undergraduate fee for nurses. [1839/98]
Written Answers. - Student Nurses' Fees.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the one-year full-time degree course which University College Galway is offering to students who have successfully completed the first general nursing registration/diploma programme which was introduced in 1994.
Successful completion by a student nurse of the three year registration/degree programme leads to registration as a nurse with An Bord Altranais, at which point he or she will become eligible for employment. As a degree in nursing is not a requirement for registration as a nurse and subsequent employment, such a qualification would be an optional post-registration qualification. Members of the nursing profession wishing to undertake a nursing degree programme are, therefore, responsible for making their own arrangements, including the payment of course fees. I am not in a position to provide funding for these courses nor have I any function in relation to the abolition of the fees involved.
The Commission on Nursing in its interim report has identified a number of issues relating to pre-registration nursing education and training, which it is expected to address in its final report. I consider that it would be prudent to await the outcome of the deliberations of the commission before contemplating any changes in the present arrangements, which are in compliance with the rules of An Bord Altranais and the relevant EU Directives.