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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Student nurse pay report

Summary

Deputy Cullinane asked when an independent report on student nurses and midwives, including pay restoration and bursaries, would be published. The Tánaiste said he had not seen it and would make enquiries with the Minister for Health.

I want to ask the Tánaiste about student nurses and midwives who are among the heroes we all commended over the last 19 to 20 months. I understand that an independent report has not only been commissioned but is sitting on the Minister for Health's desk and that report is looking at a permanent solution for fourth-year nurses. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation demanded that their pay be restored to 80% of an entry-level staff nurse position and that for first-year, second-year and third-year nurses there would be a fair allowance and bursary put in place. That report needs to be published, the Government needs to act on its recommendations and a fair solution needs to be put in place for nurses and midwives. It was understood that would happen before the budget but it did not happen. It was then hoped it would be in the budget but it was not. When will this issue be dealt with once and for all?

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I am afraid I do not have an update on that. I have not seen the report and it has not come to the Cabinet yet but I will make enquiries with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and get back to the Deputy with a further answer later in the week.

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