Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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292. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE has offered all 2016-2017 nurse graduates permanent contracts as per the memorandum of 26 April 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40263/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Nursing and midwifery recruitment and retention is a priority for the Government. My Department is in regular contact with the HSE on matters concerning the recruitment of nurses and midwives, including implementation of the 2017 Nursing and Midwifery Agreement.

As provided for in the Agreement the HSE is focused on offering graduating nurses and midwives permanent posts. Each Hospital or Community Healthcare Organisation area is focused on making offers to the 2016/2017 nursing and midwifery graduates where possible. Where a Hospital or CHO area is unable to offer places to all graduates then the remaining graduates are being offered places in the respective Hospital Group or alternative CHO location as appropriate.