Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the Health Service Executive recruitment of 1,000 graduate nurses and midwives to the public health services in early 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57085/12]

Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding Health Service Executive recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57306/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 184 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. The health service will continue to recruit permanent staff where this is necessary and can be accommodated within the available financial resources and the employment ceiling set by Government.