Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2014
154. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the increase in annual fees nurses are required to pay to An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais to remain registered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38878/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra160. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Nursing Board plans to increase its annual retention fee by 50% to €150 from January 2015; if this decision will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38928/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra165. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if he will consider reducing the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland registration fees for nurses and midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38964/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 160 and 165 together.
A new Nurses and Midwives Act was passed into legislation in 2011. The Act provides, inter alia, for the protection of the public in its dealings with nurses and midwives and the enhancement of their high standards of professional education and competencies. The Department of Health is responsible for oversight of the governance of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The Department has no role in setting or approving registration fees.
The Board is an independent body, answerable to the Oireachtas, with the responsibility to ensure that it has the financial capacity to undertake all its legal obligations. The cost of enacting the additional requirements under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2014 was set out in the Regulatory Impact Analysis that was carried out prior to the enactment of the legislation. These costs include an enhanced regulatory process with supporting systems for continued professional development and certain education and training requirements for the professions.
It was also made clear at the time of the legislation that the Board would continue to be self-funding and needed to plan and cost how it would fulfil its legal obligations. Following detailed negotiations with the Executive and Board members in 2013 it was agreed in October 2013 that an initial once-off sum of €1.6 m would be granted by the Department to the Board to cover 2013/2014 costs, but that the Board would have to increase its income in 2015 to undertake its commitments in the legislation. The Board of the NMBI made the decision to increase the annual registration fee at its meeting on 17th September, 2014. A helpline, email address and website information page have been made available by the NMBI to provide clarification for registrants who may have queries on this matter.
