Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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573. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the number of nurses who are advanced nurse practitioners by 2.5%; the increased number of nurses becoming an advanced nurse practitioner that this would involve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56557/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, in November 2021 I requested that the number of nurses and midwives practicing at an advanced level across the health service be increased from 2% of the workforce to 3% over the next two / three years. A target of 2% had been previously recommended in The Policy on the Development of Graduate to Advanced Nursing and Midwifery Practice (Department of Health, 2019).

At the end of September 2022, there was a total of 42,657 whole time equivalents in the nursing and midwifery workforce. Based on this, increasing the number of advanced nurse and midwife practitioners by 2.5% would result in an additional 1,066 whole time equivalents. The salary cost per post would be €73,872 ( based on the mid-point of the scale as at 1 October, 2021 plus 11.05% for employers PRSI). Adding 10% for non pay overhead gives a figure of €81,259 per post with 1,066 posts costing €86,622M per annum. In addition, the education costs required for registration as a Registered Advanced Nurse or Midwife Practitioner are €6,000 per year (2-year requirement) for MSc Advanced Practice. Therefore, there is a once off education cost of €12,792M associated with the 1,066 uplift

On foot of the Budget 2022 provision of €11.9M there are now 149 new advanced practice posts which has brought the total number of nurses and midwives at advanced practice level to 880 or 2.06% of the current total estimated workforce of 42,657 whole time equivalents. Adding 1,066 to the 880 figure would result in a total of 1,946 (or 4.56%) of the nursing and midwifery workforce working at advanced practice level.