Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
1408. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will review the current work placement system and the issue of pay for trainee midwives (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16581/23]
View answer1409. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he agrees that trainee midwives should be paid minimum wage for the work hours they are expected to do in a healthcare setting as part of their qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16582/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1408 and 1409 together.
Clinical placement learning is mandatory and comprises 50% of nursing and midwifery undergraduate educational programmes. Mandatory supernumerary clinical placements occur for 45 weeks from year 1 of the programme right through to the first semester of year 4. Allocation to a clinical placement is driven by educational needs enabling the student to achieve stated learning outcomes. In line with Directive 2013/55/EU, supernumerary clinical placements ensure learning takes place in a clinical learning environment and that essential experience is gained under the supervision of a registered nurse or midwife called preceptors. These supernumerary students are not employees and are therefore not paid. As students, rather than employees, the primary focus of their clinical placements is on learning. Changing the supernumerary status of those placements to that of an employee would remove the educational protections that enable such students to participate in an observing and a learning capacity.
The enhanced travel and subsistence scheme for student nurses and midwives undertaking supernumerary clinical placement arose following recommendation from the McHugh Report, which was an examination of the existing clinical placement allowances regarding travel, subsistence and accommodation requirements. Eligible students will each receive €500 per year (Years 1 to 3), as a targeted measure to contribute towards meeting the extra costs of meals associated with supernumerary clinical placements. A new rate of €80 for overnight accommodation is being introduced, along with an increased weekly cap of €300, for those eligible students who require accommodation away from their normal place of residence while attending clinical placements. This weekly cap is three times the cap introduced on 1st January 2022, and almost six times the previous cap. Students requiring overnight accommodation can also avail of, on a vouched basis, the reasonable cost of uniform laundry services.
Furthermore, as per Circular 4/2023: Payment of Clinical Placement Allowances to Undergraduate Supernumerary Nursing and Midwifery Students, issued by my Department on 27th February 2023, the enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme will be backdated to the start of the current academic year, September 2022.
Student nurses and midwives’ final year internship clinical placement consists of a continual 36-week rostered placement, including annual leave. The internship placement is a paid placement as the student nurses and midwives are considered as 0.5 whole time equivalent of the workforce. Student nurses and midwives continue to work under supervision during the internship clinical placement. As per Department of Health Circular 01/2023 as issued on 30th January 2023, I am ensuring that their salary is set in line with the relevant recommendation in the McHugh Report, by increasing their rate of pay to 80% of Point 1 of the Staff Nurse/Midwife pay scale.
