Vol. 513 No. 1
493 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 107 nurses scheduled to register for the Bachelor of Nursing course at NUI Galway and that no other students in the country have to pay undergraduates fees of £2,317; the plans, if any, he has to address this inequality; when a decision will be made; the timescale involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1953/00]
I understand that there are two nursing degree courses on offer at the National University of Ireland, Galway: a one academic year course and a part-time course that can be undertaken over 18 or 24 months. Following the Government meeting in Ballaghaderreen last week, the Taoiseach and I met a delegation of nursing students wishing to undertake the former course who are seeking to have their fees paid. In response to representations made to me by the students, I gave an undertaking that I would ask my Depart ment to investigate whether anything could be done for them.
I should explain that the students concerned have successfully completed the three-year nursing diploma programme and are entitled to register as nurses with An Bord Altranais. While undertaking the diploma programme, their third-level fees were paid by the relevant health agency and they also received an annual non-means tested maintenance grant and other supports. The difficulty with the one academic year degree course is that it is outside the scope of the funding arrangements agreed between my Department and the Department of Finance in respect of pre-registration nursing education.
The Commission on Nursing has recommended that no third-level institution should introduce a pre-registration nursing degree programme before the start of the academic year 2002-03. Since a degree in nursing is not at present a requirement for registration as a nurse and subsequent employment, it is regarded as an optional post-registration qualification. Members of the nursing profession wishing to undertake a degree programme are in the same way as any other public service workers responsible for making their own arrangements, including the payment of course fees. It is, however, open to nurses who are employed by health agencies to apply to their employers for financial support towards the cost of undertaking such courses. Most health agencies have a continuing nursing education budget and funding from this budget is used to help nurses wishing to undertake further education.
My Department has given further consideration to the position of the Galway students wishing to undertake the one-academic year degree course. Unfortunately, it is not possible to ringfence any arrangements for these students. There are currently some 3,100 nursing students participating in the nursing diploma programmes at various third level institutions around the country, and it is expected that there will be an additional 1,500 students next autumn. It would be inequitable to meet the fees of the students who have enrolled for the degree course being provided by NUI Galway but not make similar provision for all the other nursing students.
The concession being sought by the Galway students, if granted, would also give rise to a legitimate expectation on the part of registered nurses undertaking degree and other courses on a part-time basis that they should also have their fees paid in full. In this context, it is important to bear in mind that there are currently in the region of 1,000 nurses undertaking such courses.
