Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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612. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the most recent information and a specific timeline for implementation of recommendations contained within the McHugh report in supporting student nurses and midwives; if he can clarify the disbursement of enhanced allowances promised to student nurses and midwives, both for 2023 and for the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53790/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, following approval by Government on 13th December 2022, I was pleased to announce €9 million in additional supports for student nurses and midwives, €5.4m of which has been allocated to the HSE to introduce an enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme for eligible students while attending their supernumerary clinical practice placements. These revised arrangements are to take effect from the beginning of the academic year 2022/2023.

The HSE confirmed they issued a circular to give effect to the payments on 6^thSeptember 2023 and a further memo providing clarifications to queries raised by Student Allocation Liaison Officers issued on 1^stNovember 2023. Payment of allowances to eligible students is a priority for me and my Department continue to engage regularly with the HSE on this matter. I am pleased to note that the HSE have now informed me that payments have commenced in a number of areas.

My Department has written to the HSE requesting and update on the status of the payments and the first status report is due in the coming weeks.