Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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357. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a significant number of nursing posts in hospitals across Ireland have recently been advertised by the Health Service Executive to be filled by foreign nationals when thousands of nurses are graduating from colleges and universities in this State each year; the reason an extended period of training in theatre and critical care is not made available to recent Irish graduates rather than sourcing staff from overseas for these specialties. [54865/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive has recently advertised internationally to fill 54 theatre nursing posts and 34 critical care posts. This reflects a significant level of ongoing vacancies and difficulties in attracting candidates for these posts following recruitment campaigns in Ireland.

While a considerable number of nurses graduate each year, approximately 1,500, it is not possible to offer the vacant posts to such graduates. Candidates for these posts would be required to have considerable experience and to have undertaken a higher diploma programme. Recent graduates, therefore, would not be eligible.

One of the main considerations in developing the Nurse Graduate Scheme was the need to retain recently qualified nurses at a time when job opportunities in the public service are very limited. The Scheme 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. In time they could pursue careers as theatre and critical care specialists.