Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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780. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention been drawn to the petition from an organisation (details supplied) to pay nursing interns the same rate as healthcare assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40510/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Earlier this year, the Health Care Assistant initiative (whereby student nurses and midwives were offered temporary contracts to work as Health Care Assistants) began in April 2020 and ceased in August 2020. This was in response to the Covid19 outbreak and was only ever intended as a temporary measure to provide additional support to the national effort, it also offered some protection to the ongoing education of student nurses and midwives as their clinical placements had ceased. Student nurses and midwives who took part in this initiative received payment of the first point of the Health Care Assistant salary scale, €28,493. The rate was also temporarily applied to those 4th year nurses and midwives on paid work placements.

Since then, the regular pay for 4th year student nurses on paid internship increased by 2% on 1st October this year. The annualised salary for this group is now €21,749 (or €10.72 per hour) for general nursing and midwifery and €22,229 (€10.96 per hour) for psychiatric nursing.

My Department is currently engaging with the nursing unions on matters of concern for student nurses at the present time. In that context, my Department is also currently reviewing allowances for student nurses on clinical placements and expects to conclude this review shortly.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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781. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention been drawn to the petition from an organisation (details supplied) to provide full health and safety protection to students, including payment if they contract Covid-19 and have to go on leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40511/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department continues to engage with nursing unions on matters concerning Student Nurses on at the present time.

My Department completed an interim review on the 19th November that confirmed the educational and welfare protections that are in place for those student nurses and midwives on clinical placement at the present time.

These protections span supports for those on clinical placement who have lost part time employment, right through to occupational health and illness supports that are available while this pandemic is ongoing. The review also concluded that placement was possible and would remain subject to regular review by the Department, HSE and HEIs.

For those student nurses and midwives on 4th year paid rostered internship, they are covered by existing HSE sick leave schemes and other supports in place for employees who contract COVID-19.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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782. To ask the Minister for Health the number of nursing students who contracted Covid-19 since the outbreak in March 2020, by month in tabular form. [40512/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this question relates to an operational matter, I have referred it to the HSE for attention and direct reply.