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

874. To ask the Minister for Health the number of advanced nurse practitioners working in the public system broken down by those working in primary, community and acute settings in tabular form; the number of such vacant posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14177/22]

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

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

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

875. To ask the Minister for Health the percentage of nurses that are advanced nurse practitioners working in the public system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14178/22]

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

876. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the number of nurses that are advanced nurse practitioners by 1%; the increased number of nurses becoming an advanced nurse practitioner this would involve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14179/22]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 875 and 876 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, in November 2021 I requested that the number of nurses and midwives practising at an advanced level (AN/MPs) across the health service be increased from 2% of the workforce to 3% over the two/ three years. A target of 2% had been recommended in A Policy on the Development of Graduate to Advanced Nursing and Midwifery Practice. I have allocated funding of €11.9m to the HSE in 2022 for 164 new AN/MP posts

At the end of January 2022, there were 41,792 WTE in the nursing and midwifery workforce. Increasing the workforce number of AN/MPs by 1% would result in an additional 418 WTE based on current WTE numbers. The cost is based on the salaries for AN/MPs €64,465 (midpoint of the candidate salary scale) with 11% employers PRSI added. There are also education costs of €6,000 per year ( 2 year requirement) for MSc Advanced Practice. A 1% increase therefore would be approximately €33,179,586 rising to approximately €33,966,262 (ongoing cost) for salary. In addition there is a once off education cost associated with the 1% uplift of approximately €5,016,000.

As of 1 March 2022, the number of Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioners (AN/MPs) is 733 WTE (1.76% of the workforce), comprising 533 WTE Registered AN/MP posts and 180 WTE candidate AN/MP posts.