Vol. 524 No. 2
313 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation in publicly funded hospitals and health boards with regard to funding arrangements for nurses who are pursuing educational qualifications; his views on whether a uniform system on funding is desirable; the plans he has to provide access to additional educational courses without charge for qualified nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22238/00]
On 12 May 2000 I announced a new initiative under which nurses and midwives wishing to undertake a range of nursing and certain other under-graduate degree courses on a part-time basis will have their fees paid by their health ser vice employers in return for a commitment to continue working in the public health service for a period of up to two years after they complete the courses.
This initiative will come into operation next year and will continue until at least the year 2005 when it will be reviewed in the light of developments in pre-registration nursing education. Nurses and midwives who commence the courses covered by the initiative in the academic year 2000-01 will qualify for a refund of their fees in 2001 provided they sign a written undertaking, before they commence the course, to continue working in the public health service for the required period after the completion of the course. Courses covered by the fees initiative include specified access courses and courses undertaken on a distance education basis, as well as certain health service management courses. The purpose of this initiative, which has been warmly welcomed by the nursing unions, is to ensure equity in the provision of financial support to nurses and midwives undertaking part-time degree courses through the introduction of uniform criteria.
