Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
487. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the payment of clinical placement allowances to undergraduate supernumerary nursing and midwifery students, as set out in Circular 4/2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49321/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra599. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 671 of 4 July 2023, the date at which the first payment of the travel and subsistence scheme grant will be paid to student nurses and midwives, given that it is due this month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49942/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 599 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, following approval by Government on 13th December 2022, I was pleased to announce €9 million in additional supports for student nurses and midwives, €5.4m of which has been allocated to the HSE to introduce an enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme for eligible students while attending their supernumerary clinical practice placements.
The HSE have informed me that they issued a circular to give effect to the payments on 6th September 2023 and a further memo providing clarifications to queries raised by Student Allocation Liaison Officers issued on 1st November 2023. Payment of allowances to eligible students is a priority for me and my Department continue to engage regularly with the HSE on this matter. I am pleased to note that the HSE have now informed me that payments have commenced in a number of areas.
My Department has requested that the HSE provide regular updates on the progress of payments.
