Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2018
229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which adequate numbers of nurses are likely to become available throughout the public health sector over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28591/18]
View answerThe main source of supply of nurses for the public health system is from those who graduate from the undergraduate degree programme for nursing. Projections on the number of nurses due to become available are based upon previous student intake, those who complete nursing programmes and subsequently register with the NMBI.
Of the cohort of 1,570 students who commenced this programme in 2012, 1,428 registered with the NMBI in 2016. In 2017, a total of 1,598 commenced the education programme and 1,289 Irish trained nurses and midwives registered.
The number of places available on the undergraduate programme and therefore the potential supply from the education sector prior to 2016 was approximately 1,570 students. In 2016, the number of places available on the undergraduate degree programme for nursing increased from 1,570 to 1,630. This cohort are due to complete in 2020. A further increase of 130 places occurred in 2017 with a total increase of 200 places due to complete in 2021.
In general terms, the number of available places has been increasing and should have a positive impact on the number of nurses who are likely to become available to the public health sector in the coming years.
