Written answers

Thursday, 7 February 2013

Department of Health

Health Service Recruitment

Photo of Brendan  RyanBrendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health the number of applications received for the Health Servicer Executive nursing and midwifery graduate initiative, the deadline of which was 1 February 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6388/13]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Under this Initiative, up to1,000 graduate nurses may be recruited on two-year contracts and will be paid 80% of the starting point of the Staff Nurse Scale. They 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.

At 1 February 2013, there were 92 applications received for Phase 1, covering registered general nurses from the Acute Hospital Setting and the Community and these are now being processed.

The scheme was introduced in the expectation that recruitment would be spread over a period of at least several months. The HSE will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis for 2012 graduates, and also those who graduated in 2010 and 2011. Further recruitment will continue during 2013. In particular, Phase 2, which will cover Mental Health, Intellectual Disability, Midwifery and Paediatrics, will launch later this month. There will also be opportunities for those who graduate in 2013 to participate.

The Initiative will give nursing and midwifery graduates an employment opportunity and facilitate their professional development at a time when it is not possible to offer permanent posts given the requirement to reduce the numbers employed in the health sector. They will be able to avail of a suite of educational programmes including intravenous canulation and training in anaphylaxis treatment. It has also been agreed that participants will be facilitated in obtaining a certificate in advanced healthcare skills to cover areas such as health assessment and pharmacology.

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