Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1330. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to address issues in relation to student nurses (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39284/26]
View answerTuesday, 26 May 2026
Questions (1330)
Written answers
A key Government priority is to protect and support the education of all students, including student nurses and midwives. As a part of Budget 2026, a 20% increase to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Supports Fund has been secured – a dedicated funding stream provided by Government to support and enhance mental health services for students in publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This brings the total annual ringfenced allocation to €6 million per year; and complements existing supports delivered by HEIs through their core funding.
This funding will support the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and HEIs in progressing the implementation of the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework and the Healthy Campus Charter and Framework. All publicly funded HEIs are actively implementing these frameworks, reporting progress to the HEA, and have formally signed up to the Healthy Campus Charter since 2022.
In line with national policy priorities, institutions are using this funding to strengthen student-facing supports, including:
• Recruitment of additional student counsellors and assistant psychologists;
• Development of senior leadership roles, such as Heads of Service;
• Training for staff to enhance their capacity to support students and make appropriate referrals; and
• Initiatives to raise awareness of available mental health and wellbeing supports, including student outreach activities.
HEIs have reported positive impacts arising from this investment, including reduced waiting times for services and an increase in the number of counselling sessions available to students.
Practice placement forms a core part of nursing and midwifery education, accounting for approximately 50% of undergraduate programmes. These placements are integral to the student learning experience and are designed to support the achievement of the competencies and learning outcomes required for safe and effective professional practice.
Students undertaking practice placements are assigned in a supernumerary capacity, meaning they are present to learn under supervision. While they make a valuable contribution to patient care and the clinical environment, their primary role is educational in nature and, as such, these placements are not salaried.
An exception applies in the final year of study, where students undertake a structured internship. During this period, they are recognised as part of the workforce at 0.5 whole-time equivalent (WTE) and receive remuneration at 80% of the first point of the staff nurse salary scale, reflecting both their contribution to service delivery and their advanced stage of training.
The provision of travel and subsistence supports for student nurses and midwives, a placement-specific healthcare allowance, recognises the additional costs associated with undertaking mandatory clinical placements, particularly where these placements are located at a distance from a student’s usual residence or college. Eligible students may avail of travel and accommodation allowances in respect of certain practice placements, subject to agreed national criteria governed by the Department of Health Circular 4/2023: Payment of Clinical Placement Allowances to Undergraduate Supernumerary Nursing and Midwifery Students. These supports are administered locally in line with national guidelines agreed between key stakeholders, including the Department of Health, the HSE and education providers.
More broadly, general student financial supports are the responsibility of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Eligibility for grants are determined based on standard criteria, including age and dependency status. As part of Budget 2026, further measures were introduced to alleviate financial pressures on students. Taken together, these measures are intended to reduce the financial burden on student nurses and midwives and support access to essential education.