John Perry
Question:325 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps which have been taken to resolve the issues in relation to offers to mature nursing students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23222/01]
Written Answers. - Nursing Education.
The nursing careers centre, which is managed by An Bord Altranais, handles arrangements for the annual intakes of students, both school leavers and mature, to the nursing diploma programmes. From this year, in line with a recommendation of the Commission on Nursing, the application system for places on those programmes is being administered by the central applications office – CAO – in close co-operation with the nursing careers centre – NCC.
The NCC administered the special requirements for entry to nursing for mature code applicants. Included in the special requirements was a written assessment and a pass/fail interview. The outcome resulted in 717 applicants reaching a satisfactory standard and these were deemed qualified.
The NCC and the CAO very much regret the error which occurred during the initial offer of places to mature applicants. In round one, approximately 200 applicants who had scored lowest in the application process, were erroneously offered preferential places. The error was discovered immediately and following joint discussions between the NCC and the CAO it was decided first, to honour the offers made in error and second, to re-run the file to offer places to all those who were entitled to receive an offer. This ensured that no mature code applicant was disad vantaged due to the administrative error. The offer process will continue up until the 17 October 2001.
My Department was informed of the error immediately it was discovered, and An Bord Altranais has kept it fully up to date on developments. An Bord Altranais has assured my Department that the decisions taken by the NCC and the CAO in the management of the error were fair and just and sought to ensure that all those who were entitled to an offer received one.
The number of places available for student nurse training in 2001 is 1,559. Some 1,045 places are available in general nursing, 314 places are available in psychiatric nursing and 200 places are available in mental handicap nursing.
Each year, a quota of places in each of the three diploma programmes is specifically allocated for mature applicants. The approximate quota available for mature applicants in 2001 is 156 places in general nursing, 15% – 121 places in psychiatric nursing, 35% – and 70 places in mental handicap nursing – 35% – a total of 347 places. As of the 26 September 2001, 549 mature applicants have been offered a place with 482 accepting same. In general nursing, 291 places have been accepted, 35 above the original quota, 124 places in psychiatric nursing, three places above the quota and 67 places in mental handicap nursing, three places less than the quota. As I mentioned earlier, the process of offering places to all applicants for nursing continues up to 17 October 2001 when the result of the last round of CAO offers will be known.
An Bord Altranais and the admissions officers of the higher education institutions are continuing to monitor the situation closely. In the meantime, the nursing careers centre is available to provide information to any applicant who wishes to have his or her position clarified.
Question No. 326 answered with Question No. 322.