As the Deputy may be aware, in November 2021 I requested that the number of nurses and midwives practising at an advanced level (AN/MPs) across the health service be increased from 2% of the workforce to 3% over the two/ three years. A target of 2% had been recommended in A Policy on the Development of Graduate to Advanced Nursing and Midwifery Practice. I have allocated funding of €11.9m to the HSE in 2022 for new AN/MP posts.
As the estimated cost of increasing training places for advanced practice nurses, nurse prescribers and clinical nurse specialists by 10% and the number of places that this would create is a HSE service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.