Vol. 502 No. 3
85 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he has taken to deal with the difficulties being experienced by student nurses undertaking the fourth year of their degree in nursing at the National University of Ireland, Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these students are the only full-time undergraduate students in a State-funded college paying tuition fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7784/99]
I presume the Deputy is referring to the one year full-time degree course leading to a bachelor of nursing which is offered by the National University of Ireland, Galway, to students who have successfully completed the nursing registration-diploma programme.
By way of background information, I advise the Deputy that the revised programme for basic pre-registration nurse education and training which was introduced in October 1994 is funded by the Department of Health and Children. Successful completion of the three year programme leads to a diploma in nursing studies and students are eligible to register with An Bord Altranais for employment as a nurse. The Department of Health and Children consulted a number of colleges on the development of accessible degree programmes which would be open both to nurses graduating under the revised programme and to nurses who graduated under the traditional model of education and training. These programmes were intended to offer post-registration qualifications on a part-time basis. A number of degree programmes were introduced on a self-financing part-time basis.
The course at the National University of Ireland, Galway, is the only full-time degree programme and I understand that the Minister for Health and Children is not in a position to provide funding for this course. This course has not been included within the scope of the free fees initiative. As this matter is at issue in the case of Sarena Tansey and Others v. the Minister for Education and Science, the Minister for Health and Children, the Western Health Board, Ireland and the Attorney General, I do not consider it appropriate for me to make any statement as requested by the Deputy.
86 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether students attending NCEA designated courses in independent colleges are being treated fairly since the introduction of free fees in that they must pay fees and in view of the fact many of them attend those colleges due to the lack of places in public colleges; the steps, if any, he has taken to remove this anomoly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7787/99]
As the question of the non-inclusion of courses in independent colleges within the free fees initiative is at issue in the case of Patrick Jordan Junior, Patrick Jordan Senior, Raymond Kearns and Barry Acton v. the Minister for Education and Science, Ireland and the Attorney General, I do not consider it appropriate for me to make any statement as requested by the Deputy.
This Government has funded a major increase in the number of places in public colleges and, as I have said previously, this approach continues to be the priority.
