Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 1

Written Answers - Nursing Qualifications.

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

388 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children if he proposes to have established a learning and upgrading training course for state enrolled nurses to allow them to be registered as state registered nurses here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5480/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The state enrolled nurse (SEN) qualification is a United Kingdom qualification which is not recognised here. Persons who have obtained this qualification must undertake a nursing conversion programme in the United Kingdom to qualify for registration as a nurse. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide such a programme here because the rules of the UK regulatory authority for nursing only allow for a maximum of 10% of the clinical component of the programme to take place outside the United Kingdom.

I introduced a special initiative in February 2001, to assist state enrolled nurses (SENs) undertaking nursing conversion programmes in the United Kingdom. Under this initiative any SEN working in the Irish health service who wishes to undertake such a programme will be entitled to receive a non means-tested grant of €7,618, £6,000, towards the overall costs including college fees, textbooks, travel and accommodation, involved in attending the programme in the United Kingdom. Payment of the grant will be subject to the SEN giving a written undertak ing that she or he will work as a nurse in the Irish health service following registration with An Bord Altranais. Some 108 SENs have benefited from the initiative to date.