Vol. 491 No. 3
308 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will introduce improved financial support arrangements for all student nurses undertaking the three year diploma programme as requested and detailed by the Irish Nurses Organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12178/98]
315 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will arrange for an urgent review of the financial support arrangements for student nurses undertaking the three year diploma programme in view of the severe shortage of nurses in the health service; if he will take into consideration that student nurses have a 35 hour week for 48 weeks of the year and that they incur considerable expense during their training; if he will urgently improve these supports; if he will ensure that the fees for the fourth year degree programme are met by the Department of Education and Science; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12284/98]
317 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to improve the situation of student nurses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12358/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 308, 315 and 317 together. It is important to outline the change that has taken place in pre-registration nursing education and training. The traditional apprenticeship model has been replaced by the nursing registration-diploma programme. As a result, the concept of a student nurse as a salaried employee of a relevant health agency no longer applies in the case of students participating in the diploma based programme. Such students are affiliated to a third level institute and have student status only. Nursing students are, therefore, supernumerary and are not paid a salary, but receive a package of financial supports, including an annual maintenance grant.
I recently approved a package of enhanced financial supports for students participating in the nursing registration-diploma programmes, including a 20 per cent increase in their annual maintenance grant. The total extra cost of these improved supports in 1998 alone is in the region of £1 million. I emphasise that students participating in the nursing diploma programmes receive a far higher level of financial support than other third level students. Each student receives an annual maintenance grant of £3,000. The grant is not subject to a means test. In contrast, other third level students are required to satisfy a means test to qualify for a maintenance grant, the maximum rate of which is £1,624 per annum.
Since the abolition of third level fees does not extend to the nursing diploma programmes, the students' fees continue to be paid by the relevant health agency on their behalf. The average annual fee is about £1,300. A book allowance of £200 and a uniform allowance of £120 are also provided for each student commencing the diploma programme. They are also entitled to receive free meals on a seven day per week basis in designated restaurants in health institutions. In addition, a new allowance of £20 per week was recently introduced to assist students undertaking external placements. This is payable where it is necessary for the student to find accommodation for the duration of the placement. Students undertaking such placements who do not require accommodation receive a free weekly travel pass. The average annual total value of these supports is some £6,000 per student, which compares most favourably with the level of funding available to other third level students.
