Michael Creed
Question:269 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will extend the application of the higher education grants scheme to cover students pursuing a degree in nursing. [11958/99]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the one year full-time degree course leading to a Bachelor of Nursing which is offered by National University of Ireland, Galway to students who have successfully completed the nursing registration-diploma programme.
By way of background information, I would advise the Deputy that the revised programme for basic pre-registration nurse education and training which was introduced in October 1994 is funded by the Department of Health. Successful completion of this three year programme leads to a Diploma in Nursing Studies and students are eligible to register with An Bord Altranais for employment as a nurse. The Department of Health consulted with a number of colleges in relation to the development of accessible degree programmes which would be open both to nurses graduating under the revised programme and to nurses who graduated under the traditional model of education and training. These programmes were intended to offer post-registration qualifications on a part-time basis. A number of degree programmes were introduced on a self-financing part-time basis. Part-time courses are not approved courses for the purposes of the higher education grants scheme.
The Bachelor of Nursing course at National University of Ireland, Galway is the only full-time degree programme and I understand that the Minister for Health and Children is not in a position to provide funding for this course. This course has not been included within the scope of the free fees initiative. As this matter is at issue in the case of Sarena Tansey and Othersv. the Minister for Education, the Minister for Health, the Western Health Board, Ireland and the Attorney General, I do not consider it appropriate for me to make any statement on the matter. Similarly, the course has not been included as an approved course under the terms of the higher education grants scheme.
Finally, I would refer to the recommendation of the commission on nursing that the future framework for the pre-registration education of nurses be based on a four year degree programme, the third year of which will involve a 12 month continuous clinical placement as a paid employee of the health service. The nursing education forum has been established to prepare a strategy for the implementation of the new four year degree programme for the intake of nursing students in 2002.