Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2021
247. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if student nurses in their fourth-year internship placements will get an increase in payments of approximately 12.5%, as per the proposals set out in the recent review of nurses' allowance payments; if these increases will be backdated; when they will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55007/21]
View answerThe longer-term review of matters related to student nursing, commissioned by my Department, completed by Sean McHugh, and published last week, makes a recommendation that the present rate of pay for Student Nurses and Midwives on 36-week paid internship placement be changed, with an increase to 80% of the first point of the Staff Nurse/Midwife pay scale.
While work is ongoing to progress Mr Mc Hugh’s specific recommendation, I want to provide additional financial support to intern students. That is why, in the interim, all student nurses and midwives on paid internship placement will be provided with an additional support of €50 per week of internship placement (a modification of the Pandemic Placement Grant to support the educational requirements during their placements, equivalent to 50% of the full Grant). This equates to €1,800 over the duration of their paid internship. This will take effect from 1 January 2022, the same date as paid internships for the current academic year are due to begin. This proposed interim measure will be put in place while work is underway to develop those detailed proposals to give effect to the recommendation relating to intern pay, within the established processes to progress pay matters.
It is important that we support our student nurses and midwives to undertake their clinical placements. I am grateful to Mr McHugh for undertaking this important piece of work as it has helped my consideration of how we can best support our student nurses and midwives as they continue their undergraduate education.
