Dáil Éireann - Volume 411 - 24 October, 1991

Written Answers. - Nurse Training Places.

Mr. O'Shea Mr. O'Shea

15. Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if he intends to increase the number of nurse training places in each health board area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that other EC countries are offering these places to young Irish men and women; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon) Rory O'Hanlon

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon): Nurse training schools in each health board area have already been advised of the maximum intake of student nurses for 1991. The spring 1992 intake for general nurse training and paediatric nurse training has also been approved and communicated to the various nurse training schools. The remaining nurse intakes in 1992 will be examined in the light of available resources and service needs.

The primary objective in determining the number of student nurse places to be offered is to ensure that an adequate number of trained nurses will continue to be available to meet service demands in this country.

1786

While it is not possible to quantify absolutely the number of applications for [1786] nurse training received, we are in the fortunate position that no difficulty is encountered in filling the proportionately high number of training places on offer.

Dáil Éireann 411 Written Answers. Nurse Training Places.

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