Vol. 530 No. 6
234 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will again review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford in relation to the payment of educational nursing fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4603/01]
I have again reviewed the case of the person to whom Deputy O'Shea refers. The person in question was an independent student public health nurse during the 1999-2000 academic year. By virtue of a July 2000 agreement between my Department and the Irish Nurses Organisation, all such students had course fees refunded and were paid for the clinical placement period. From the 2000 intake onwards, all student public health nurses are being sponsored by health boards and the Department is funding the payment of salaries and course fees. This arrangement also applied to 1999-2000 sponsored students.
Sponsored student public health nurses are now being properly recognised as employees for whom permanent posts are reserved on successful completion of their course. This is in keeping with the original circular 27/66 which provided for sponsorship in the first instance. As employees they are paid a salary while training and in return are expected to provide a commitment to work for their sponsoring health board for at least two years following qualification.
I am aware that the person in question worked as a locum PHN with the South Eastern Health Board before, during and following completion of her course, but she was not sponsored by the board while training. Independent student public health nurses were not recognised as employees in the way that sponsored students were. Consequently, it is not possible to provide for payment of salary for periods other than the periods actually worked.
Finally, the person in question was employed as a temporary public health nurse with the South Eastern Health Board on completion of her course. I understand that agreement has now been reached between the board and the INO on a conversion process for temporary public health nurses and that the individual in question should qualify for a permanent post under this process.
