Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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460. To ask the Minister for Health the full year cost of hiring an additional 600 midwives, on the basis of average pay grades currently paid to midwives, and starting pay grades, in tabular form. [24916/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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461. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the identification of routes to qualification as a midwife; the public spend on same; the numbers qualifying in each year since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24917/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to thank the deputy for the matter raised.

This question consists of three parts. In addressing part one of the question “Identification of routes to qualification as a midwife”, I wish to inform the Deputy that there are currently two routes available to become a midwife in Ireland. The first route is by way of a four-year undergraduate degree offered in six Higher Education Institutions across the country. The second route is for Registered General Nurses who may undertake an eighteen-month programme with six Higher Education Institutions.

I have arranged for the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to provide input in relation to the second part of the Deputy's question and I have arranged for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) to provide input in relation to the third part of the Deputy's question.

As soon as I receive the responses from the HEA and the NMBI, I will provide you with the information supplied by these organisations. It is expected that you should receive a reply within 15 working days.