Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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631. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which he will address the issue of lower pay affecting the latest nursing recruits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21351/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A Chairman's Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement provided that the Department of Health and the HSE would consider the extent to which the issue of pay during the fourth year 36 week undergraduate placement and the absence of incremental credit in respect of this placement have a bearing on nurse/midwifery recruitment and retention.

Following consideration by my Department, in conjunction with the HSE and the nursing unions, sanction was received in February for an increase in the rate of pay for the fourth year placement from 55% of the first point of the Staff Nurse Scale to 70% and for the granting of incremental credit in respect of the placement for those graduating in 2016 and 2017.