Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 January 2013
244. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of applications received as of 17 January 2012 for the new nurse/midwife graduate programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3398/13]
View answerThe HSE is proceeding with arrangements to commence the Graduate Nurse Placement Initiative. The recruitment process for Phase 1 for registered general nurses and covering the Acute Hospital setting and the Community commenced on 11 January, with the first of the appointments to be in place by the end of February 2013.
On 16 January, the HSE announced that it had extended the scope of this scheme to encompass nurses and midwives who graduated in 2010 and 2011, in addition to 2012 graduates, and applications are now being invited on this basis. It is not considered appropriate to disclose the number of applications received while a public service recruitment competition is in progress. I will ask the HSE to reply to the Deputy when the numbers become available. Applications under Phase 2 of this initiative, which will cover Mental Health, Intellectual Disability, Midwifery and Paediatrics, will be invited from February 2013.
