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Nursing Staff Remuneration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 September 2016

Thursday, 29 September 2016

Ceisteanna (215)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

215. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the efforts he is making to reach an agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the recognition of the 36-week incremental credit for all nursing graduates, in line with the December 2015 agreement made with the nursing unions by his Department and the HSE; his views on whether this has created a significant anomaly where 2016 graduates are earning more than those who graduated in the previous five years; his further views that this anomaly is contributing to recruitment and retention difficulties with nurses and a resultant high agency nurse bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27896/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I met with the nursing unions on Tuesday concerning recognition of the 36 week clinical placement undertaken by all nursing and midwifery graduates for the purposes of incremental credit. Following on from the meeting I have written to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform concerning restoration of the credit to those who graduated between 2011 and 2015.

Incremental Credit for the 36 week clinical placement was abolished by the then Government in December 2010. Having considered a submission made on behalf of the Nursing representative bodies, the INMO, the PNA and SIPTU Nursing and the Department of Health and the HSE, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform sanctioned recognition of the 36 week placement as qualifying for incremental credit for students on a placement in 2016 and into the future on 19 February 2016.

It is recognised that recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives is a significant issue at present. This is due to a range of factors including intense competition globally and from private providers for nurses due to a world wide shortage and the international standing of public nurses trained in Ireland, working conditions and lifestyle choices. I am committed to making terms and conditions for all nurses and midwives working in the Irish public health system as attractive as possible.

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