Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There was an increase of 1,063 in the number of nurses employed in the public health service - there are now 35,712 - from August 2014 to August 2016. The numbers had fallen by 4,000 from 2007 to 2014. I pointed out to Deputy Bríd Smith that the matter of the incremental credit for the 36-week clinical placement undertaken by fourth year student nurses was abolished by the Government in office in December 2010 as part of a number of measures to reduce public service pay bills. Previously, on taking up employment with the HSE following graduation, nurses would go onto the second point of the scale after 16 weeks. A recommendation has been made that that should be paid and the two Ministers are speaking about the matter.

See this speech in context