Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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125. To ask the Minister for Health the number of nurses who have now taken up the two year contract at reduced pay; if he will replace the scheme with the necessary recruitment of nurses on regular pay scales and employment conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22562/13]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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127. To ask the Minister for Health if he still proposes to continue with the graduate nurse recruitment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22602/13]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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630. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to end the discriminatory practices in salary scales for graduate nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22416/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 127 and 630 together.

A major objective of this scheme was to put in place more cost-effective service delivery arrangements, having regard to the high rates of expenditure on agency staffing and overtime. Applications from graduate nurses and midwives under the scheme will continue to be accepted by the HSE. In line with normal practice, the HSE will aim to facilitate applicants with offers of appointment to posts in the part of the country for which they have expressed a preference.

The scheme was introduced on the assumption that intake would be spread over an extended timeframe, especially since the scheme was being introduced some months after most 2012 graduates completed their training. The HSE has decided that applications for Phase 1, covering registered general nurses for the Acute Hospital setting and the Community, will be accepted on a rolling basis for 2012 graduates, and also those who graduated in 2010 and 2011. Phase 2, which covers General, Mental Health, Intellectual Disability and Midwifery Mental Health, Intellectual Disability, Midwifery launched in mid-February. To date eight graduate nurses have taken up employment in two locations. A further five have start dates agreed for June. Recruitment will continue during 2013 and encompass those who will be graduating in the Autumn.