Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the requirements that public health nurses be qualified midwives has changed; the current qualification requirements to be a public health nurse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12535/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Regulation of the nursing and midwifery professions, including the setting of requirements and standards in relation to the education programmes for registration, is the statutory responsibility of An Bord Altranais. The Board is a broadly representative body. The twenty nine members include seventeen elected by nurses who are representative of all the divisions of the register. In November 2004 the Board approved a number of changes to the Nurses Rules including the following amended rule in relation to admission requirements for nurses wishing to train in public health nursing.

Before admission to the programme for education and training leading to registration in the Public Health Nurses Division of the Register, the name of the candidate for the registration must already be entered in the Register of Nurses and the candidate must have two years clinical experience in nursing. Unless the candidate's name is entered in the Midwives Division of the Register, the candidate must complete an An Bord Altranais approved module or unit of study on Maternal and Child Health as part of the programme'.

I understand that in framing this rule change the Board was mindful of recommendation 8.30 of the Report of the Commission on Nursing which recommended dropping the mandatory requirement for a midwifery qualification for those wishing to train as public health nurses. My approval is required under Section 26 of the Nurses Act 1985 and these rules were formally approved by me in December 2004 as soon as they were submitted by the Board.