Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
810. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason for not providing final year interns who are rostered members of staff, who are remunerated within an agreed salary with an increased salary equal to the rate that interns were offered in spring 2020 for the duration of their rostered internship, particularly given the significant increase in hospitalisations since that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9569/21]
View answerIn spring 2020, a temporary measure was put in place to provide additional and immediate support to the national effort to increase recruitment for the health service, to assist it dealing with the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ‘Health Care Assistant initiative’ (whereby student nurses and midwives were offered temporary contracts to work as Health Care Assistants) began in April 2020 and ceased in August 2020. Student nurses and midwives who took part in this initiative received payment of the first point of the Health Care Assistant salary scale at that time, €28,493. Also, as part of this initiative, 4th year nurses and midwives who were on paid work internship placements at that time had their contracts temporarily augmented and paid at the first point on the Health Care Assistant salary scale.
Since the start of the pandemic, the HSE has also added significant additional numbers of nursing, medical and support staff as part of their response to the demands COVID-19 has made on the health service. Budget 2021 has been the largest investment in the health service workforce, with a current estimated increase of 15,838 Whole-Time Equivalent staff across 2020 and 2021. This includes a significant increase in the number of nurses and midwives. Already the HSE reports that a total of 1,712 additional Whole-Time Equivalent nursing and midwifery staff were added between December 2019 and December 2020. The Pay and Numbers Strategy is currently being finalised and will confirm the total projected increase of nurses and midwives in 2021.
Unlike March 2020, this significant increase in staffing numbers means the HSE is now better prepared to deal with the recent surge in admissions. My Department has made it clear to the HSE that it stands ready to provide additional supports if needed, including a similar initiative to last year’s if required. To date, the HSE have not requested any re-opening of this initiative as part of their staffing needs.
It should be noted that the regular pay for 4th year student nurses on paid internship increased by 2% on 1st October 2020. The annualised salary for this group is now €21,749 (or €10.72 per hour) for general nursing and midwifery students and €22,229 (€10.96 per hour) for psychiatric nursing students.
I would also like to confirm to the Deputy that a review is due to commence on long-term matters regarding supports for student nurses and midwives on clinical placements, including those on paid internship placement. My Department is currently engaging with the nursing unions on this matter and I expect this review to commence its work in the near future.
