Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
871. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to direct-entry midwifery students being unable to work in primary care centres; if she will consider rectifying this barrier to recognise the invaluable role of dedicated midwives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16655/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUndergraduate student nurses and midwives complete clinical placements as supernumerary students; meaning their status as students is protected and they are not subject to missing essential learning time through working status. These students are not employees and are additional to the workforce in a learning capacity and are therefore not paid. The final year internship placement for student nurses and midwives consists of a continual 36-week rostered clinical placement, including annual leave. The internship placement is a paid placement and individual student nurses and midwives are considered as 0.5 WTE of the workforce. This ensures reduced supervision remains in place to support final learning weeks. As the HSE is responsible for the provision of practice placements for student nurses and midwives, this will be referred directly to the HSE for answer.
