John Ellis
Ceist:188 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make arrangements for 2002 that mature applicants for nursing courses will be given the opportunity of places in their own regions. [25452/01]
Written Answers. - Nursing Courses.
In the context of the transfer of the applications and offers systems for places on the pre-registration nursing diploma programme to the Central Applications Office, CAO, from this year onwards, arrangements were made by the Nursing Careers Centre for a quota of places on each programme to be reserved for mature applicants. This arrangement will continue to apply in future years in recognition of the fact that an increasing proportion of mature persons are participating in the programmes.
The arrangement is specifically designed to ensure that mature persons who may not have the same mobility as other students, have an opportunity to secure training places in higher education institutions which are accessible to them.