Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:232 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Health if a religious ethos applies to the training of nurses; and if he will give details of the religions catered for. [1606/94]
Written Answers. - Nurses' Training Ethos.
An Bord Altranais has statutory responsibility for regulating nurse training in this country. Under the Nurses Act, 1985, the board is empowered to make rules, subject to my approval, governing training programmes leading to registration. No provision is made in such rules for the religous ethos of training programmes. Individual nurse training schools set their training requirements within the framework of the board's rules. As employees, student nurses would be expected to perform their clinical role in line with the broad ethos of the employing hospital.
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:233 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health, in view of the higher cost of nursing homes in the Dublin area, if he will consider permitting the Eastern Health Board to pay an enhanced subvention for persons who are resident in such nursing homes. [1607/94]
The primary aim of the subvention scheme provided for by the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990 is to ensure that dependent persons most in need of nursing home care will have access to such care.
It is recognised that the higher cost of nursing homes in the Dublin area is a cause of concern to some individuals, particuarly those individuals who have no other income but the non-contributory old age pension and whatever maximum level of subvention is appropriate to their dependency. Officials of my Department will be meeting representatives of the Irish Private Nursing Homes Association in the near future to discuss this issue.