Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered the fate of the agency workers who are currently employed by the Health Service Executive in the posts now to be taken by new graduate nurses; if he will consider these temporary contract workers as applicants for the new posts alongside the graduate nurses when advertising the new positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56812/12]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health if there is a proposal within his Department or the Health Service Executive to recruit 1,000 graduate entry nurses on temporary fixed two year contracts; if there is a possibility that recruitment of that nature will be made available to existing agency staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56858/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 638 and 647 together.

The Health Service Executive will shortly be introducing an Employment Initiative/Placement Scheme for Graduate Nurses and Midwives. Under the scheme graduate nurses and midwives will be offered the opportunity to apply to take part in a two year placement programme in the public health services. In particular, the scheme has the potential to enable nurses with limited or no work experience post-graduation to gain such experience and to benefit from mentoring and skills development. The scheme is also intended to contribute to a reduction in expenditure on agency staffing and overtime in the health service.

The HSE is proceeding with arrangements to finalise the details of the scheme, including the eligibility criteria, and will be inviting applications early in 2013.