Vol. 408 No. 1
53 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health (a) the percentage of qualified nurses currently employed in public and voluntary hospitals with less than two years experience and (b) the total number of trainee nurses currently employed in public and voluntary hospitals; and if he will outline the percentage of total nursing staff which this constitutes.
The percentage of qualified nurses currently employed in public and voluntary hospitals with less than two years experience is not readily available at present. However, a major nursing study is currently being undertaken by my Department which will facilitate the provision of such detailed information when completed.
Excluding student midwives, the total number of student nurses in the public health services is 3,799 approximately which represents 15.6 per cent of nursing staff.
