Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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629. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to continuing the practice of paying student nurses that reach a required standard of training a full salary when they are in practical job training phases (details supplied). [31270/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Department Officials are currently examining the circumstances for re-opening of the Student Nurse (Temporary HCA) initiative that was in place earlier this year. This initiative was put in place as an initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on nursing education and demands on our health service.

When in operation, this initiative gave 1^st, 2^ndand 3^rdyear nursing students the opportunity to apply for these temporary roles to support our health service earlier this year while protecting their nurse education. 4^thyears on rostered student nurse placement also benefited from this initiative and were paid at the higher HCA rate.

This examination is expected to conclude in the coming days and a decision will then be taken on re-opening this initiative