Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
576. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of the McHugh report in relation to student nurses and midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60382/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra596. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a response will issue to correspondence (details supplied) regarding the McHugh Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60443/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra658. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on when the financial supports for student nurses and midwives recommended in the McHugh report will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60798/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra705. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the implementation of the McHugh report. [61021/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 576, 596, 658 and 705 together.
On 4 November 2021, following the publication of Longer-Term Review of Matters relating to Student Nurses and Midwives, an independent review, conducted by Mr. Seán McHugh at my request (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 (PPG) 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 who require 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. Student nurses and midwives (for Academic Year 2021/22) on paid internship placement received additional financial support (50% of the PPG: totalling to €1,800 for the academic year) for the duration of their internship, from 1 January 2022.
These additional supports arose following the publication of the McHugh report which set out a number of recommendations, including an enhanced Travel and Subsistence scheme for students and matters related to uniforms while attending their supernumerary clinical placements. As this is a significant departure from the current position, I have 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 have considered 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.
