Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

594. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the issue of an increase by €50 in the annual retention fee for nurses by the Irish nursing board as the new fee increase to €150 is a hardship measure on many nurses who are trying to cope financially; if he will intervene, as the Irish nurses teaching council actually reduces its retention fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41026/14]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

600. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the recent decision of the Irish nursing and midwifery board to increase registration fees for nurses and midwives; his views on the INMB taking into account the ability of nurses and midwives to pay the fee increases prior to making decisions of the level of fees; and if he will amend legislation to allow him to intervene to cap and-or reduce increases in registration fees. [41051/14]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

822. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding increases in the nursing registration fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42274/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 594, 600 and 822 together.

A new Nurses and Midwives Act was passed into legislation in 2011. The Act provides, inter alia, for the protection of the public in its dealings with nurses and midwives and the enhancement of their high standards of professional education and competencies. The Department of Health is responsible for oversight of the governance of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The Department has no role in setting or approving registration fees.

The Board is an independent body, answerable to the Oireachtas, with the responsibility to ensure that it has the financial capacity to undertake all its legal obligations. The cost of enacting the additional requirements under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2014 was set out in the Regulatory Impact Analysis that was carried out prior to the enactment of the legislation. These costs include an enhanced regulatory process with supporting systems for continued professional development and certain education and training requirements for the professions.

It was also made clear at the time of the legislation that the Board would continue to be self-funding and needed to plan and cost how it would fulfil its legal obligations. Following detailed negotiations with the Executive and Board members in 2013 it was agreed in October 2013 that an initial once-off sum of €1.6m would be granted by the Department to the Board to cover 2013/2014 costs, but that the Board would have to increase its income in 2015 to undertake its commitments in the legislation. The Board of the NMBI made the decision to increase the annual registration fee at its meeting on 17 September, 2014. A helpline, email address and website information page have been made available by the NMBI to provide clarification for registrants who may have queries on this matter.