Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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169. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 694 of 4 November 2014, the position regarding recognition by An Bord Altranais of nursing qualifications awarded in Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48616/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) have informed me that they advise all overseas applicants on the website at the following link: that each application received is assessed on an individual basis and therefore NMBI does not pre-determine the outcome of any application until a full review is carried out on same.

Applications received from nurses/midwives who undertook their nursing programme in Australia are each assessed on an individual basis. This is based on assessment of a transcript of the applicant’s education programme(s), a detailed curriculum vitae, a professional reference and verification of the applicant’s registration status and good standing from any regulatory authority where the applicant has worked. The applicant’s education programme is assessed to see how it compares with the requirements and standards of NMBI for nurse/midwifery registration education programmes. The NMBI requirements are based on European Union Directive 2005/36/EC which clearly sets out the theoretical and clinical practice requirements for nurse registration education programmes throughout the EU. These have been in place for general nursing since 1977 and 1980 for midwifery and must be adhered to by all Member States of the EU. Taken into account in assessing an education programme are the specific subjects and quantity of the theoretical instruction and the variety and quantity of the clinical practice experience during the programme. If an individual’s initial nursing education programme does not meet the requirements then any post-registration nursing education and supervised clinical practice can be taken into account. The outcome of an application will be one of the following: if the requirements are met in full, then Direct Registration will be granted; if the requirements are not met in full but, taking into account all education and supervised clinical practice experience, are not significantly below the requirements then the applicant will be required to successfully undertake a period of adaptation and assessment in an approved site prior to registration with NMBI; if the applicants education programme is so significantly below the requirements for registration such that post-registration education and supervised clinical practice cannot compensate for the deficits within their programme, then registration will be refused; an internal appeals mechanism is in place for those applicants who have either been refused registration, been issued with an adaptation and assessment decision or who fail an adaptation placement.

Nursing/midwifery education programmes in Australia are not uniform in duration or content. The theoretical and clinical content of these programmes varies significantly. Some education programmes are such that registration is refused or an adaptation and assessment decision is reached. In other instances registration is granted.It is important again to note that each application is assessed and evaluated on an individual basis.

The central tenet of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is the protection of the public and as such NMBI must be fully satisfied that each application that is considered for registration is fully reviewed and decisions reached are in full compliance with requirements and standards for registration. Individuals who have queries regarding the application process or outcome of an individual assessment should contact NMBI directly.