Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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28. To ask the Minister for Health the way his Department can assist the private and voluntary nursing home sector, which is experiencing difficulties in the recruitment and retention of nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14653/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I understand from the HSE that there are two areas under active review in relation to these recruitment and retention issues. Firstly, there is the issue of recruitment of nurses educated and trained in Ireland. The Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director have been supportive in allowing the nursing home sector meet with graduate students in the universities. The Chief Nursing Office in the Department has been engaged with, the nursing home sector in promoting nursing in the older adult as a career choice. The Office has facilitated discussions, spoken at conferences and engaged with 3rd level universities on seeking solutions to this issue. Discussions have involved exploring career pathways within older people services to encourage staff into this area of nursing practice.

The second area under review, relates to the recruitment of global nurses. There are 3 adaptation courses available this year in April, June and August. These courses are 6 weeks in duration and facilitate the integration of global nurses to nursing in an Irish context. Of the 195 places available only 60 places have been taken to date. The nursing home sector are aware of these vacancies.

In addition, options are being explored with an Irish university to offer a one-day programme of assessment through an examination format. The pilot of this programme will be complete and results available in the last quarter of 2015.