Vol. 543 No. 1
94 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a CAO error in relation to persons wishing to participate in the nursing degree course has resulted in some applicants being treated unfairly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25555/01]
The Nursing Careers Centre, which is managed by An Bord Altranais, handles arrangements for the annual intakes of students, both school leavers and mature, to the nursing diploma programmes. From this year, in line with a recom mendation of the Commission on Nursing, the application system for places on those programmes is being administered by the Central Applications Office in close co-operation with the Nursing Careers Centre.
The NCC administered the special requirements for entry to nursing for mature code applicants. Included in the special requirements was a written assessment and a pass-fail interview. The outcome was 717 applicants reaching a satisfactory standard and these were deemed qualified.
The NCC and the CAO very much regret the error which occurred during the initial offer of places to mature applicants. In round one, approximately 200 applicants who had scored lowest in the application process were erroneously offered preferential places. The error was discovered immediately and following joint discussions between the NCC and the CAO, it was decided firstly to honour the offers made in error and secondly to re-run the file to offer places to all those who were entitled to receive an offer. This ensured that no mature code applicant was disadvantaged due to the administrative error. The offer process continued up until 17 October 2001.
My Department was informed of the error immediately it was discovered, and An Bord Altranais has kept it fully up to date on developments. An Bord Altranais has assured my Department that the decisions taken by the NCC and the CAO in the management of the error were fair and just and sought to ensure that all those who were entitled to an offer received one.
The NCC and the CAO have agreed to offer concessions next year to those mature applicants who reached the satisfactory standard and who were not offered places on this year's programmes. If they decide to reapply in 2002, the following concessions will be made: no CAO application fee will be required; the pass result form this year's interview may be carried forward to 2002; and a choice of one of the following: the score from the written assessment this year may be carried forward to 2002 or the applicant may sit the written assessment next year and use whichever of the 2001 or 2002 scores is the better.
Question No. 95 answered with Question No. 24.
