Vol. 518 No. 2
98 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of first year nurse training places in 2000; the number of unsuccessful applicants for these places; if he will introduce a special training scheme geared towards some of those unsuccessful candidates in order to bring additional staff into the system as soon as possible in view of the chronic shortage of nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11320/00]
100 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the success of the university based nurse training compared to the hospital based vocational type training; the diffi culties to which the new type of training has given rise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11322/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 100 together.
In response to the nursing shortage, and as part of the settlement of the nurses' pay dispute, an additional 300 nurse training places are being provided nationally, bringing the total number of places available this year to 1,500. As this year's competition for places on the three year nursing registration-diploma programme is currently under way, it is not possible to provide the Deputy at this early stage with any details of the number of unsuccessful applicants. However, the Nursing Careers Centre received some 5,000 applications this year. This is most encouraging, bearing in mind that the overall number of places has increased by 25% over last year, and the decline in the volume of applications for positions in the public services generally.
I have no plans to introduce a special training scheme for unsuccessful applicants along the lines proposed by the Deputy. It is open to such applicants to apply for the following year's competition. I might mention that each year a number of applicants are eliminated from the competition because they do not meet the minimum educational requirements for entry to nurse training.
A major transformation has taken place over the last six years in the area of pre-registration nursing education. The transition from the traditional apprenticeship model to the diploma based programme in all nursing disciplines has now been completed. While the new model of education has enhanced the way in which students are prepared for the nursing profession, it is important to stress that, in the development of the diploma programme, care was taken to preserve the best elements of the traditional system.
The nursing profession is currently gearing itself up for enhancing further the way in which nursing students are prepared for the profession. This is being done in the wake of publication of the report of the Commission on Nursing. The commission has recommended a revised educational framework that takes account of the need to ensure that nurses are equipped to meet the rapidly changing and complex demands of the health service into the future. It has made a cogent case for moving pre-registration nursing education to a four year degree programme.
As a first step, the Commission on Nursing recommended the establishment of a representative nursing education forum to prepare a strategy for the implementation of this change. This forum was established by my predecessor early last year. Its membership includes representatives of schools of nursing, third level institutions, health service providers, An Bord Altranais and relevant Departments. The forum is at an advanced stage in its work, and I expect to receive its report next September.
