Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 May 2014
197. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health his views on restoring pay parity to all those nurses on the new graduate nurses scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20460/14]
View answer198. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health his views on recruiting additional nurses on a pay scale that has parity with their colleagues to relieve pressure in our hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20461/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together.
Under the Haddington Road Agreement, nurses participating in the Graduate Nurse Programme are paid 85% of the starting pay of a Staff Nurse in the first year and 90% in the second year. In addition these nurses would also be in receipt of allowances and other premium payments. There are no plans to review these rates of pay. It is noted that the Agreement specifies that any subsequent appointment following completion of the Graduate Nurse Programme will be to the third point of the staff nurse salary scales and that, under the Agreement, the January 2011 new entrant salary scales have now been assimilated with the scales applicable to those who were in the Public Service prior to January 2011.
A major objective of the Graduate Nurse Programme is to put in place more cost-effective service delivery arrangements, having regard to the high rates of expenditure on agency staffing and overtime. The Programme enables the health services to offer 1,000 graduate nurse positions for two years, at a time when job opportunities in the public service are very limited. Therefore it supports the retention of recently qualified graduate nurses and midwives within the Irish health system and enables them to gain valuable work experience and development opportunities post-graduation.
