Duncan Smith
Ceist:2028. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of payments to student nurses as of September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44110/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 September 2022
Ceisteanna (2028, 2066)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:2066. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when he will sanction the payment of financial supports to student nurses and midwives as recommended by the McHugh review; if he will ensure that there is no further delay given the fact that the new academic year has already started. [44273/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2028 and 2066 together.
On 4 November 2021, following the publication of the McHugh Report, I announced that the Government had approved my proposal to provide significant additional supports, worth €12m, for student nurses and midwives while attending their clinical placements. Among these temporary measures, I extended the Pandemic Placement Grant of €100 per week to all eligible nursing and midwifery students on supernumerary placement to the end of the academic year 2021/22.
I also announced additional support to nursing and midwifery students needing overnight accommodation away from their normal place of residence in order to attend some of their clinical placements. I doubled the cap on the vouched accommodation allowance to €100 per week of placement.
These additional supports arose following the Longer-Term Review of Matters relating to Student Nurses and Midwives. This independent review, conducted by Mr. Seán McHugh at my request, set out a number of recommendations, including an enhanced Travel and Subsistence scheme for students while attending their supernumerary clinical placements. As this is a significant departure from the current position, I committed to bringing a further proposal to Government setting out how to deal with this recommendation with effect from the start of the 2022/2023 academic year.
Along with my Department I am considering a number of options in relation to this recommendation so that an enhanced scheme can shortly be put in place that will provide a targeted and more equitable approach to supporting students in undertaking their supernumerary clinical placements.