Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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166. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the difficulties that nurses are experiencing in registering and seeking a licence as a result of delays and incompetence by the Irish nursing board; the action he proposes to take regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39919/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) has advised there are 64,913 people on the register. They have further advised that between 1 January and 9 November 2015, 2,491 nurses have been registered with the NMBI. This is broken down as 522 nurses registered from EU Countries, 312 nurses registered from Non-EU countries and 1,657 Irish trained nurses registered. In relation to overseas applications for registration, 2,006 applications have been received. This compares with 866 applications for the same time period in 2014, an increase of 132%.

Details on the applications received from overseas applicants and registration decisions have been set out in the following table.

Applications for Registration (data supplied by the NMBI)

Total number of applications received from overseas applicants from the start of the year is provided on a monthly basis and set out in the following table:

Registration Decisions (data supplied by the NMBI)

The number of applicants who received registration decisions between 01/07/2015 and 9/11/2015 is 2,018. The total number of application received from the start of the year is provided on a monthly basis and set out in the following table:

The following actions are being taken to improve the current situation:

- the Department has approved the filling of 18 posts;

- a call centre facility commenced on the 8 October 2015 to handle calls/deal with registration queries (1,852 calls were taken by 6 November);

- new forms to simplify the process of applying have been introduced including a revised information booklet;

- further adaptation courses are being provided for nurses who are required to complete a course prior to registration. The NMBI have approved on a pilot basis, a new aptitude test with RCSI as an alternative method to assess candidates for registration. Nurses are currently being advised of the availability of this test. The first theory test will take place on the 5December provided a minimum cohort of 20 applicants are secured to undertake the test;

- an upgraded website will go live in November (the website will allow applicants to track the status of their applications, pay fees online, and the adaptation placements and appeals process will be mediated via electronic forms);

- proposals for significant upgrading of the overall IT systems, particularly the registration system, are being developed by the NMBI;

- meetings to review registration and other governance issues are held between the Department of Health and the NMBI monthly with the accompanying reports; and

- to address the issues of delays in registration the NMBI has informed the Department that it continues to collaborate closely with key stakeholders including representatives from the HSE, Nursing Homes Ireland, Directors of Nursing/Midwifery and agencies to ensure complete applications received are expedited, particularly for those applicants who have confirmed job offers.

I am happy to inform you that the Department of Health has had discussions with the Department of Justice and Equality with a view to resolving certain visa difficulties and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation regarding work permits. It has been confirmed that the current provision of an atypical working visa will be extended to those choosing to undertake the aptitude test.