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Hospital Staff.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004

Wednesday, 17 November 2004

Questions (91)

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

128 Mr. McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has proposals for establishing here a convertible course similar to the course being run in Liverpool for state enrolled nurses to qualify as state registered nurses (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28668/04]

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Written answers

The state enrolled nurse, SEN, qualification is a United Kingdom qualification which is not recognised in this country. Persons who have obtained this qualification must undertake a nursing conversion programme in the United Kingdom in order to qualify for registration as a nurse. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide such a programme here because the rules of the United Kingdom regulatory authority for nursing only allow a maximum of 10% of the clinical component of the programme to take place outside the United Kingdom.

There is a grant available from the Department to assist state enrolled nurses, SENs, undertaking nursing conversion programmes in the United Kingdom. Under this initiative any SEN working in the Irish health service who wishes to undertake such a programme will be entitled to receive a non-means-tested grant of €7,618 towards the overall costs, including college fees, textbooks, travel and accommodation, involved in attending the programme in the United Kingdom. Payment of the grants will be subject to the SEN giving a written undertaking that she-he will work as a nurse in the Irish health service following registration with An Bord Altranais.

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