John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 484: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the situation with regard to commencing undergraduate psychiatric nurse training at a college (details supplied) in County Sligo; if she has approved this course; if she will be providing sufficient funds for this course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15078/07]

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 502: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the directive she has issued in relation to the proposal to commence undergraduate psychiatric nurse training in a college (details supplied) in County Sligo as this would have available the required trained nursing resource in Sligo/Leitrim Mental Health Service to meet the future work planning need and the mental health needs of the population; her views on whether the process of integrating the Sligo/Leitrim Mental Health Service in to a third level learning environment will develop and empower the mental health service providers and lead to a more autonomous and collaborative work place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15252/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 502 together.

The undergraduate nursing degree programmes in general, intellectual disability and psychiatric nursing commenced in September, 2002. This was one of the central recommendations of the Commission on Nursing. To coincide with the introduction of degree level education, the number of student nursing places at this time increased to 1,640 places per annum across 13 higher education institutions.

There are currently 25 undergraduate nursing places available per annum in psychiatric nursing at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. This degree programme is in partnership with Donegal and Sligo/Leitrim mental health services and is designed to meet the mental health needs of the population and future workforce planning in the region.

There are no plans to increase the number of undergraduate psychiatric nursing places nationally to provide such a programme in the college referred to by the Deputy. I have issued no directive to the HSE in the matter, nor do I intend to.

I might mention that the college concerned is already involved in the delivery of the undergraduate nursing degree programme in both general and intellectual disability nursing.