Dr. Maura Pidgeon:

No. The contribution of the HSE towards the careers centre is a long-established provision for the recruitment of students into the university programmes. It had been significantly higher over the years but was reduced when nursing education went into the universities. It is specifically targeted at mature applicants.

Deputy Ó Caoláin referred to the increase in the annual retention fee. Following consultation between the board, the Department of Health and key stakeholders, and in the interests of the continued provision of services through nursing care in the health service, the decision was taken to reset the fee to its original level of €100. There are ongoing negotiations between those parties on how the board can be funded to meet its obligations under the legislation.

There was a question about the total number of nurses and midwives on the register. The figure of 62,000 relates to what we call the "live register". An additional 20,000 nurses, including those who are retired, people working overseas and so on, are listed on the inactive register. In regard to the breakdown of the employment status of the 62,000 nurses on the "live register", we have been in the process of collecting those data in recent months. Having more comprehensive figures will help to inform workforce planning for the organisation.

There are 1,500 nursing and midwifery students in training in the Irish education system. We do not have data on their retention within the workforce. At the time of completion of their programme, all new graduates apply to come onto the register, but we do not have information on where they go thereafter.

In regard to EU applications, those numbers are over and above the number of home-grown Irish students.

I will ask Ms Byrne to deal with the question of the verification of documentation.