Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Various Governments and health Ministers have made efforts to bring the nurses back from abroad. What is Mr. Hughes's experience of returning nurses?

There was a "bring them home" campaign which probably cost hundreds of thousands of euro. Two recruitment agents went to the UK. Nine psychiatric nurses applied, six came back and I think there are four left. That was a year and a half or two years ago. That is the impact that had. Much of that relates to the group I am talking about who left with a sour taste in their mouths, for want of a better description. However, there was not enough incentive to return. They were being offered €1,500 that had to be vouched. When they looked at the salary, the price of rent, educational opportunities and so on, I would say the majority said they were better off where they were.