Ms Martina Harkin-Kelly:

The issue is not one of training. There are people applying through the CAO system year-in, year-out, for nurse training. The retention of nurses following training is the issue. As mentioned by Deputy Buckley, there is a misnomer with regard to what a nurse is trained to do over the four-year training timeframe. Such a person is a graduate degree student who progresses to higher diploma, Masters and, in many cases, PhD level. It is not the four-year training period that is problematic but the immediate period after that four years.

However, I caution against any scholarship scheme in respect of which there would be no stipulation with regard to salaries post training. As a union we believe that nurses should be paid at the same salary level as all other allied health care professionals because they have the same qualification. There is no difference in this regard. I would go as far as to say they are the most holistic individuals who sit within the health service in that their role is physical, psychological, social, spiritual, environmental and economic. That is what they are trained to do.