John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

167. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the lack of CAO places made available to students having completed a pre-nursing course through a post leaving certificate course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6420/17]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

168. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider making additional CAO places available to students that have completed a pre-nursing course through a post leaving certificate course in view of the nursing shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6421/17]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

169. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of nursing positions available through the CAO system in order to address the shortfall that exists; if the Department of Education has been in discussions with his Department on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6468/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 169, inclusive, together.

The Central Applications Office (CAO) processes all applications for nursing and midwifery undergraduate courses in Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Decisions on admissions to undergraduate courses are made by the HEIs who instruct the CAO to make offers to candidates who meet the required criteria.

I can confirm that the places for undergraduate degree programme are currently set at 1,570. This figure was considered to ensure that capacity factors including clinical placement requirements are available to each student on the programme. Each placement requires supervisory, teaching and assessment support, all of which are resource intense. It should also be noted that during the final year of the programme the student is paid 70% of the first point of the staff nurse salary scale for a period of 36 weeks.

Allocation of these places is made to both standard and mature applicants. Standard applicants include those applying on the basis of leaving certificate results and QQI FET (FETAC) level 5 awards. Mature applicants apply on the basis of being over 23 years and an assessment test. Approximately 15% of places are allocated to mature applicants.

It is the decision of the universities and colleges as to the quota of places made available to QQI FET applicants and not all courses will accept these applicants. The overall quotas available for QQI FET applicants is limited - for example in 2016, there were 1,581 applications using QQI FET awards for approximately 98 places.

I would also like to advise the Deputy that the budget for these degree programmes is held by the Department of Education and Skills.

During 2016, the Department wrote to the Minister of Education and Skills highlighting the current shortage of nurses in Ireland, especially psychiatric nurses. The Department sought an increase in the number of undergraduate nursing places available in HEIs in the 2016/2017 academic year in order to reduce the shortage of psychiatric nurses in Ireland.

In that regard, I wish to advise you that the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority agreed to increase the Psychiatric nursing places by 60 for the 2016/2017 intake. Workforce planning for replacement psychiatric nurses that are due to retire in the next few years is also currently under review.