Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 7 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 4

Written Answers. - Trainee Public Health Nursing.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

124 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health, in relation to the 25 trainee public health nurses who are currently studying for a diploma in public health nursing at UCD, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that funding for fees and salary is provided for only four of the trainees; that 19 trainees have their fees, but no salaries paid by the relevant health boards; that two of the trainees receive neither fees nor salary; if he will take steps to ensure that a common policy is adopted by all health boards in this vital area of community care training and provide such finance as will facilitate such a common policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

125 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that health boards have different policies with regard to the sponsorship of student public health nurses; his views on whether other health boards should follow the practice of the Western Health Board which pays such students two-thirds of salary plus fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ivan Yates

Ceist:

126 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that all trainees for the position of public health nurses are paid at least two-thirds of salary and have their fees paid by the sponsoring health board, in view of the financial difficulties experienced by such trainees and the need to put adequate incentives in place for the development of public health nursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 125 and 126 together.

The sponsorship of nurses studying for the diploma in public health nursing is in the first instance a matter for the individual health boards.

The development of different forms of sponsorship over time has been prompted by a variety of factors including the selection of students for the course, the anticipated manpower requirements of individual health boards, the numbers of nurses applying to undertake the course of training and budgetary constraints.

This matter is currently under examination by my Department with a view to rationalisation of the system of sponsorship throughout all health board areas in the context of projected required members of public health nurses.