Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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514. To ask the Minister for Health if he is concerned that nurses are emigrating because of the additional training years included in the Haddington Road Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42078/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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A major objective of the Nurse Graduate scheme is to put in place more cost-effective service delivery arrangements, having regard to the high rates of expenditure on agency staffing and overtime. The scheme will enable the health services to offer 1,000 graduate nurses positions for two years, at a time when job opportunities in the public service are very limited. Under the Haddington Road Agreement it was agreed that participants will be paid 85% of the first point of the new entrant scale in the first year and 90% in the second. Therefore it supports the retention of recently qualified graduate nurses and midwives within the Irish health system and enables them to gain valuable work experience and development opportunities post-graduation.

The educational component of the scheme will comprise a two year part-time three module Certificate Graduate Education Programme that will be Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland approved and academically accredited. This formally accredited programme will have currency for accreditation for prior learning by Higher Education Institutes when graduates wish to undertake further study and progress towards a Masters Level Award at a later stage in their career.

To date 115 staff nurse/midwife graduates have commenced employment. A significant number of candidates are currently going through the recruitment and clearance process or are awaiting their registration with An Bord Altranais and will commence work on receipt of this.