It was heartening that statistics showed there were over 5,000 applications for 1,500 nurse training places in this year's intake, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said.
Last year's recruitment drive had resulted in the filling of the largest ever number of places on the nursing diploma programmes.
In view of the success of that campaign, further funding totalling £400,000 had been made to the various schools of nursing throughout the State late last year to enable them to undertake local marketing campaigns within their catchment areas aimed at promoting nursing as a career.
"I understand from the Nursing Careers Centre that it has received more than 5,000 applications for nurse training this year. This means that there are more than three applicants for every available training place. This is very encouraging, bearing in mind that the overall number of places is being increased by 25 per cent over last year and the downward trend generally in the volume of applications for positions in the public service."
The Minister said his Department was in discussion with other relevant departments and with An Bord Altranais regarding entry visas/work permits for nurses recruited from outside the European Union or the European Economic Area. These discussions were aimed at ensuring that there were no unnecessary barriers to entry.
Slightly over 3,000 student nurses were in training at present. The intake for 2000 would be 1,500, an increase of 300 over 1999. Dr Mary Henry (Ind) said it was very important that when nurses were being recruited from outside the EU steps were taken to ensure they met the standards required in this State. Internationally, our standards were known as being extraordinarily good, and this must be maintained. Ms Mairin Quill (PD) said the recruitment figures to which the Minister had referred showed there was no difficulty in getting bright young people into training in the first instance.
"The challenge is to keep them there and to keep them here after their training is complete and to offer them career paths that are challenging and innovative and interesting."