David Cullinane
Question:802. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to offer a job guarantee to health graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16551/22]
View answerTuesday, 29 March 2022
Questions (802)
Written answers
Recruitment of recently qualified health and social care graduates is a key priority for the Department and the HSE. There is a process in place to offer newly qualified nursing and midwifery graduates permanent positions in the HSE. This process is managed through the Hospital Group and CHO networks. All Nursing and Midwifery graduates were offered permanent contracts in 2020, 2021 and the same is planned for 2022.
In relation to the Health and Social Care Professionals, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that all graduates from Irish Colleges (Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Dieticians and Physiotherapists) from 2021 were given the opportunity to apply for positions in the HSE through a single national process. Most of the Health and Social Care Professional graduates availed of this opportunity. These were all interviewed and placed on a HSE national panel. Each member of the panel was offered multiple job opportunities across the country. It is planned to offer the same opportunities to the Health and Social Care Professional graduates in 2022.
All eligible CAO entrants to Irish Medical Schools who are work permit exempt are guaranteed an internship place in the HSE following completion of their medical degree. It is a priority for CAO graduates to have access to internships in order that they may obtain full registration with the Medical Council of Ireland, and subsequently obtain specialist registration with a view to permanent employment in the Irish health service. This protects the State investment in their undergraduate education. It also supports Ireland's commitment under the World Health Organization’s Global Code on the Recruitment of International Health Personnel to strive for self-sufficiency in the domestic production of doctors.
Applicants for a medical internship are applying for an employment position and are recruited directly by the HSE. The HSE applies the Employment Permits Act in relation to recruitment for intern posts. Irish Medical School CAO entrants who are work permit exempt are guaranteed an intern post in the HSE. Following that, the remaining posts are allocated to all remaining and eligible EEA applicants, followed by all remaining and eligible non-EEA applicants. All eligible CAO applicants have been allocated an intern post since 2016.