Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 June 2014
151. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will consider offering grant assistance for nurses to specialise in certain areas in view of the fact that we have a shortage of specialised nurses thus his Department is recruiting persons from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24881/14]
View answerThough the HSE has the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to do so in order to ensure patient safety and to support service delivery, there are difficulties in recruiting certain front-line staff including specialist nurses, consultants and NCHDs at present. I am currently progressing measures to ensure that we will have an adequate supply of highly skilled nurses, consultants and NCHDs into the future.
The HSE supports nurse specialisation in a number of ways, including sponsored training and certain categories qualify for specialist qualification allowances and location allowances. Additional nursing support is being made available throughout the system. Measures include the increase in nursing hours available under the HRA and the appointment of nearly 500 nurses and midwives under the graduate scheme. I have recently approved the establishment of a taskforce to develop a framework that will determine the staffing and skill mix requirements for the nursing workforce in a range of major specialties. The focus will be on the development of staffing and skill mix ranges which take account of a number of influencing factors. The taskforce is being chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer.
Where front-line staffing shortages exist, the HSE makes alternative arrangements to ensure service provision, including recourse to agency and locum cover. However, it is preferable that sufficient numbers of key staff are recruited to permanent posts to support the most efficient and effective delivery of services.
