Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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643. To ask the Minister for Health why the Irish Nursing Board has not issued a reply to an application for registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1091/16]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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649. To ask the Minister for Health to investigate why the Irish Nursing Board is not issuing replies to public representatives when making inquires on behalf of constituents regarding their applications for registration, his plans to remedy this, given that the Health Service Executive is anxious to bring nurses back here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1120/16]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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650. To ask the Minister for Health why a reply has not issued from the Irish Nursing Board in response to an application for registration from a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1121/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 643, 649 and 650 together.

I understand the NMBI responded to the Deputy on 5 January 2016 in relation to the question he raised in the Dáil late last year. The delay in responding to him is regretted. However, the reply which issued took account of developments up and including the date of issue of the reply. In this regard, the Deputy will note that the NMBI confirmed that the applicant's name was entered in the Psychiatric Division of the Register on 5 January 2016 and certificates issued on that day to the applicant's home address.

With regard to the other question the Deputy raised during January in relation to a specific application, the NMBI has advised that this applicant has applied for consideration of registration with the NMBI in the general nurse division of the Register on 29 October 2015 having undertaken her nurse training in the United Kingdom. As part of the application process, the applicant was requested to furnish to the NMBI's office, a completed application form, identity documents and passport sized photographs. The NMBI also requires a verification of registration completed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in the United Kingdom prior to a review being undertaken on her application. To date, this verification remains outstanding. A total of 12 queries have been raised via the NMBI's overseas call centre regarding the progress of this file, the most recent query being raised on 8 January 2015 whereby the applicant was informed of the outstanding document. Unfortunately, as this document is crucial to the final review on the applicant's application, the NMBI is not in a position to progress this application until same is received directly from the applicant or directly from the NMC in the United Kingdom.

The NMBI has noted that the Deputy has not provided any details relating to correspondence received from public representatives that were made to the NMBI during 2015. The Acting Director of Registry will immediately investigate same if the Deputy wishes to provide such details.

The NMBI has put a number of contact channels in place for applicants following up on the progress of their applications. One such measure, which was introduced in October 2015, is the opening of a dedicated call centre line for overseas applicants. This call centre is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. The call centre can provide regular updates to overseas applicants on the current status of their application. To date, this call centre has taken over 4,500 calls. The NMBI is imminently launching a new website which will have additional features for overseas applicants to include a facility to “Track their Application” on-line.

The NMBI is acutely aware of the severe pressures on employers throughout the HSE, the Nursing Home sector and other employers to progress applications through the system as efficiently and as quickly as possible. The NMBI continues to have monthly engagement with representatives from the above organisations and also holds weekly meetings with individual stakeholders as required. This engagement has led to very positive working relationships with these Stakeholders.

The central tenet of the NMBI is the protection of the public. Therefore, we must be satisfied that all documentation required to progress an application to decision stage meets all the necessary requirements. The NMBI has referred to its guide document for overseas applicants on its website, which provides a detailed breakdown of the overseas process if the Deputy needs to gain more specific information on the NMBI's processes and requirements.