Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1536. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit facilitate internships by students engaged in full-time or part-time further and higher education courses; if so, the number of interns his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit accept annually; if any or all of these interns receive remuneration of any kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20009/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In the past year, on a pilot basis the Department of Health facilitated one paid internship for a student engaged in a full-time higher education course and will consider doing so again in the coming year in the context of its overall workforce plan.

The Department had previously participated in the "Willing, Able and Mentoring" (WAM) Programme, for graduates with a disability.  This is a paid, six-month internship and the Department will consider a further appointment from this programme in the future.

The Department is also in discussions with the OWL (Oireachtas Work and Learning) programme to provide a role for a person with an intellectual disability.  This will be a part-time paid placement.

In respect of the Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, I have sought to collect and collate the data and I will provide this by way of separate letter to the Deputy as soon as possible.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to its workforce.