Written answers

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Department of Health

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1891. To ask the Minister for Health the cost for 2020, 2021 and 2022 of the student nurse and midwife pandemic placement payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35770/21]

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2164. To ask the Minister for Health if all student nurses have been paid the back dated placement grant for their work during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36720/21]

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2358. To ask the Minister for Health when the €100 grant payment for student nurses during their hospital placement will commence given many have indicated that they yet to receive the payment; if the payment will be backdated; if the payment will be subject to tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37496/21]

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

3076. To ask the Minister for Health if all student nurses and midwives on placement are receiving the announced €100 allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40186/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1891, 2164, 2358 and 3076 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, at the end of 2020 a short-term review of student nurse and midwife allowances in the context of COVID-19 was undertaken at my request by Professor Tom Collins. This review was conducted to examine any additional challenges that the Pandemic may have created for student nurses and midwives on supernumerary clinical placement and final-year internship placement. I accepted all of the recommendations which Prof. Collins made. This includes the payment of a Pandemic Placement Grant (PPG) of €100 per week for each week of supernumerary clinical placement which is backdated to the start of the current academic year, September 2020. I have received the necessary approval for the payments to be classified as a tax disregard to ensure they are not subject to tax. The total cost of the PPG for the academic year 2020/2021 is €7.4m

The processing of the payment of these grants is well underway. However, the recent HSE IT disruption did cause some delay to the planned completion by early June. The HSE have confirmed a significant number of students have received payment and they are working with local clinical sites to ensure that outstanding payments are completed as soon as possible.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.