Vol. 496 No. 6
323 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the situation whereby a full-time nursing student who has to repeat exams will forfeit the higher education grant and have to pay exam and tutorial fees; if this will accelerate turnover from the nursing programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23878/98]
The Deputy will be interested to know that my Department recently issued a circular to all health agencies involved in the nursing registration-diploma programmes setting out revised arrangements for the payment of maintenance grants and third level fees in respect of nursing students who are required to repeat elements of the programme.
Where such cases arise, the third level fees will be paid in respect of the academic year which the student is required to repeat. In addition, the student will receive a maintenance grant of up to 50 per cent of the value of the annual maintenance grant normally payable to students in respect of the repeat year. These arrangements are in respect of a single repeat year only.
I am confident that these arrangements will ensure that those nursing students who are required to repeat elements of the nursing registration-diploma programme will be enabled to do so without suffering financial hardship.
