Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Connaughton for raising this issue. Delays in processing nurse registration applications are directly connected to the volume of requests arising from current initiatives to attract and retain nurses. My Department and the Health Service Executive are collaborating in sourcing several solutions to the issues affecting nurse recruitment and retention.

The background is that nurses who trained in a country outside Ireland and wish to work in Ireland are required to apply to register as nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, formerly known as An Bord Altranais. In assessing an applicant for registration, the board seeks evidence from applicants of comparable standards of education and practice to protect the public, as nursing qualifications vary significantly from country to country. According to the NMBI, the timeframe for completion of the assessment of qualifications for registration is up to 90 days, provided all necessary documentation has been supplied by the applicant. The main difficulty in expediting timely applications, as reported by the NMBI, is delay or failure by the applicant or third parties to furnish the necessary documentation required to assess eligibility for registration.

The NMBI, following the assessment of an applicant's qualifications, may require the applicant to undertake a six- to 12-week period of adaptation and assessment. A period of adaptation is designed to make up for differences in education and ensure competence for working in the Irish health service. If this adaptation is required, it must be successfully completed as a prerequisite to registration. Two HSE adaptation courses are still available this year - in June and August - and these courses are between six and 12 weeks in duration. They facilitate the integration of overseas nurses into nursing in an Irish context. It may be of interest to the Deputy to know that since the nationally co-ordinated pilot adaptation programme commenced in June 2014, 151 candidates have completed the programme, 58 candidates are currently undergoing assessment and 126 candidates are due for assessment up to the final programme in August 2015. In addition to the current provision for placements in 2015, 293 requests for placements have been received from employers. These numbers are not reflective of a national total, as some hospitals have also run independent adaptation programmes.

A collaborative group, including my Department, the Health Service Executive and Nursing Homes Ireland representatives, continues to explore options to facilitate adaptation and thereby registration with the NMBI. It is important to acknowledge that the NMBI is dealing with a significant volume of applications. The board is processing all applications as quickly as possible while ensuring appropriate procedures and checks which are designed to protect of the public. I should also advise the Deputy that the NMBI has been allocated additional resources to address these issues.

Notwithstanding the real challenges we are facing in nurse recruitment and retention, 500 more nurses are working in the public health system than at this time last year and more than 1,000 additional beds will be provided under the Fair Deal scheme this year, all of which will be staffed by nurses.

See this speech in context