Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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174. To ask the Minister for Health the average waiting time for assessment and registration of nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; the longest time it has taken a nurse to register with the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26810/15]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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175. To ask the Minister for Health how the average waiting time for assessment and registration of nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland compares to the aims of the board in respect of such processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26811/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together.

I wish to thank Deputy Buttimer for the questions raised.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is the independent, statutory organisation which regulates the nursing and midwifery professions in Ireland. In this regard, I would like to advise that this is an operational matter and it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the NMBI. I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NMBI for attention and direct reply.

If you have not received a reply from the NMBI within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Minister for Health if will meet with the chairperson of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland to discuss the steps that can be taken to reduce the backlog of applications for registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26812/15]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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177. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the backlog of applications for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26813/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.

I wish to thank Deputy Buttimer for raising these questions. Delays in processing nurse registration applications are directly connected to the volume of requests arising from the current initiatives to attract and retain nurses in the Irish health services. The Department of Health and the HSE are collaborating in sourcing several solutions to meeting the issues arising in relation to nurse recruitment and retention.

The background to this issue is that nurses who trained in a country outside of Ireland and wish to work in Ireland are required to apply to register as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). In assessing an applicant for registration, to protect the public, the NMBI seeks evidence from applicants of comparable standards of education and practice. According to the NMBI the timeframe for the completion of the assessment of qualifications for registration takes up to a maximum of 90 days provided all necessary documentation has been supplied by the applicant.

The main difficulty to expediting timely applications, as reported by the NMBI, is that of delay or failure by the applicant or third parties to furnish the necessary documentation required to assess eligibility for registration. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, following assessment of qualifications by an applicant, may require an applicant to undertake a six to twelve week period of adaptation and assessment. A period of adaptation is designed to make up for differences in education and ensure competence for working in the Irish health service. If this adaptation is required it must be successfully completed as a pre-requisite to registration.

The NMBI is processing all applications as quickly as possible, while ensuring appropriate procedures and checks which are designed around protection of the public.

I wish to advise the Deputy that officials of the Department met with the President and the Chief Executive Officer of the NMBI last week to discuss a range of operational issues including the current delays in Registration. A further meeting between the Department of Health, HSE and Nursing Homes Ireland is scheduled for this week. The NMBI is keeping the current situation under review and the Deputy may wish to note that this week approval was granted to recruit 3 clerical officers.