Vol. 500 No. 5
138 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who is 28 years old and is repeating first year as a trainee nurse, but whose allowance from his Department has been reduced to £25 per week, is entitled to any other payments. [4644/99]
My Department recently issued a circular to all health agencies involved in the nursing registration or diploma programme setting out revised arrangements for the payment of maintenance grants and third level fees in respect of nursing students who are required to repeat elements of the programme. Where such cases arise, the third level fees will be paid by the relevant health agency in respect of the year which the student is required to repeat. In addition, the student will receive a maintenance grant of up to 50 per cent of the value of the annual maintenance grant normally payable to students in respect of the repeat year. I understand that these arrangements, which are in respect of a single year only, are more favourable than those applicable to other third level students in similar circumstances. I am not aware of any other payments to which the person referred to by the Deputy would be entitled.
