Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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200. To ask the Minister for Health if pay rates for fourth year student nurses on placement form part of the recent agreement at the Workplace Relations Commission with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation; the pay rates to be paid to these student nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1579/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The agreement at the Workplace Relations Commission with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation on 14 December, 2015 provided for consideration of pay rates for fourth year student nurses undertaking the 36 week clinical placement. Consideration was to be progressed under the terms of a 'Chairman's Note' to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, these terms extended to include broader potential savings and service impacts pursuant to related engagement under the auspices of the Commission. The agreement provided that the process would be progressed as a priority.

Following engagement between the relevant parties, the HSE, the nursing unions and my Department, a Joint Document encompassing proposals on the rate of pay for the placement and on granting incremental credit for the placement was finalised on 23 December. The Joint Document was submitted to my Department for consideration, in the first instance. Any change to the rate of pay will be subject to the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.