Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the pay rate for a newly qualified nurse and mid-wife graduate in 2009 was €33,470 and it will be reduced to €22,000 in 2013; if he will outline the way this reduction of 34% compares to the percentage reduction over the same period for people commencing work in the health services as a hospital consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1648/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The starting pay rate for a newly qualified staff nurse/midwife in 2009 was €33,470, which was the second point of the pay scale. At that time, entrants were placed on the second point of the salary scale reflecting time spent in clinical placements as students prior to registration. Incremental credit is no longer granted in respect of placements prior to registration. The first point of the staff nurse/midwife pay scale in 2009 was €31,875. The first point of the staff nurse/midwifery pay scale is now €27,211.

The HSE has recently commenced a graduate employment initiative which will support the retention of recently qualified graduate nurses and midwives within the Irish health system and enable them to gain valuable work experience and development opportunities post-graduation. Under the Initiative, up to 1,000 graduate nurses will be recruited on two-year contracts and will be paid 80% of the first point of the Staff Nurse Scale. These staff will also qualify for premium payments and allowances on a pro rata basis, bringing expected average pay to about €25,000 per year, excluding overtime.

The starting salary for consultants is 40% lower now than in 2009.