Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The last time the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, was before the committee I raised this issue and I am delighted to see a quick response. I was told when visiting nursing homes in Dun Laoghaire that some of them may have to close beds because they do not have nurses. HIQA instructed one nursing home to stop taking in residents until it is able to fill its nursing vacancies. I am particularly worried about nursing homes. I understand that public health is of huge importance. What is the status of the applicants who have been in the process for longer than 12 months?

I am delighted to hear there will be an online facility. It is how one applies for many careers. One must fill in the form on screen to progress. It is something the witnesses should examine.

A number of care staff working in nursing homes are qualified nurses who do not have registration. They have been waiting for 12 or 18 months and feel totally frustrated. They are nurses but they are not recognised here as such. I have been told they make an application but there is no response until they are told the application is being reviewed six months later. It is a very untimely process. I absolutely understand the staffing issues but if we must close down nursing homes and hospitals are backed up with acute beds being kept by patients we have a serious problem. This is why we want the witnesses to sort it out or tell us how to sort it out.