Mr. Peter Hughes:

One element would be the postgraduate scheme. A qualified nurse can take a one-year postgraduate course in psychiatric nursing. We could expand the scheme regionally. We need to consider conducting a feasibility study of others with degrees moving into nursing. That would more than likely entail a two-year training scheme.

Many nurses who entered the service after 1995 and have been on a PRSI class A stamp are now retiring. When they do, they cannot work again as otherwise, they will lose their supplementary pension. The Government could examine that issue. It would be a short-term, stopgap option for a number of years, but it might solve the problem.