I am very mindful of the significant demands placed on student nurses, including those undertaking clinical placements from County Louth, and the financial and personal pressures that can arise where placements are not located close to a student’s usual residence or scheduled consecutively.
Practice placement forms a core part of nursing education, accounting for approximately 50% of undergraduate programmes. These placements are an integral part of the student learning experience and are designed to support the achievement of the competencies and learning outcomes required for safe and effective professional practice, in line with the standards and requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
The organisation and scheduling of clinical placements, including the distribution of placement days within a given week, is determined locally by clinical partners in collaboration with higher education institutions. These arrangements are designed to support appropriate supervision, access to learning opportunities, and the overall quality of the clinical learning environment. Higher education institutions operate within a framework of statutory academic autonomy, and as Minister I do not have a role in directing specific placement arrangements.
The delivery of clinical placements is undertaken in close partnership with the health service. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has primary responsibility for the organisation and provision of clinical placements across healthcare settings. My Department does not have a direct role in the operational management of placements.
There are a range of supports available to undergraduate nursing and midwifery students during their practice placements, including the provision of travel and subsistence allowances under Department of Health Circular 4/2023: Payment of Clinical Placement Allowances to Undergraduate Supernumerary Nursing and Midwifery Students. These supports recognise the additional costs associated with undertaking mandatory placements, particularly where these are located at a distance from a student’s usual residence or college. Eligible students may avail of travel, subsistence and, where appropriate, accommodation supports, which are administered locally in line with agreed national guidelines.
Students also have access to broader financial supports through the higher education system. A limited Student Assistance Fund pilot placement project is currently in draft stage and will be rolled out in 2026/27 to support students who are struggling with the costs of fulfilling a placement as part of their higher education course.
Students make a significant contribution during their clinical placements as valued members of the healthcare team, supporting patient care while developing their clinical competencies. As placements are primarily educational in nature, they are not salaried. An exception applies in the final year of the programme, where students undertake a structured internship and receive remuneration reflecting their contribution and advanced stage of training.
My Department will continue to engage closely with the Department of Health, the HSE and higher education institutions to support improved alignment between education provision and workforce planning, including in relation to clinical placement capacity and the student experience. The Government remains committed to strengthening supports for healthcare students, recognising their vital role in the future healthcare workforce.
