Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether it is equitable that graduate nursing and midwifery salaries are significantly less than the graduate nursing salaries for allied health professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5393/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A new entrant nurse or midwife in their first year earn an effective annual salary of €30,669. In addition to this basic salary, the HSE estimates that on average nurses and midwives earn an additional 20% of their basic salary in allowances and premium payments, which would increase the average gross salary for a new entrant nurse to €36,802. This compares favourably with other areas of graduate recruitment to the public service (where starting salaries are in the region of €30,000) and wage rates in the wider economy. Based on the most recent graduate earnings survey available, the average graduate earnings in Ireland are in the region of €28,000.

It should also be noted that it is not unusual for different graduates of different professions are paid at different rates, on completion of a four-year degree in their chosen field.