I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 77 and 201 together.
As I indicated in my reply of 24 February 2000, there are two nursing degree courses on offer at the National University of Ireland, Galway: a one-academic year course and a part-time course that can be undertaken over 18 or 24 months. Following the recent Government meeting in Ballaghaderreen, the Taoiseach and my predecessor met a delegation of nursing students wishing to undertake the former course who are seeking to have their fees paid. In response to representations made to my predecessor by the students, an undertaking was given that the Department of Health and Children would investigate whether anything could be done for them.
I should explain that the students concerned have successfully completed the three-year nursing diploma programme and are entitled to register as nurses with An Bord Altranais. While undertaking the diploma programme, their third-level fees were paid by the relevant health agency and they also received an annual non-means tested maintenance grant and other supports. The difficulty with the one-academic year degree course is that it is outside the scope of the funding arrangements agreed between my Department and the Department of Finance in respect of pre-registration nursing education.