Nursing students could get a cash boost in January, says Stephen Donnelly

Stephen Donnelly has promised that he will open the government wallet to pay nursing students for Covid work if a review recommends it.

And the Minister of Health said that nursing students could have the extra money in January.

Donnelly has caved in to mounting pressure for young nurses to pay to work in hospitals during the pandemic.

Currently, fourth year nursing students are paid € 9.48 per hour for clinical internship work, while everyone else receives a measly € 50 accommodation allowance.

Opposition politicians have raised the issue for three days in a row, during the turn of the Dáil’s most important piece, Questions from the Leaders.

And the Irish Mirror has also supported the worthy theme throughout this week, with our ‘Pay Our Nursing Students’ campaign.

Donnelly has promised that if an appropriations review recommends that additional cash be paid, and if the nurses unions are happy with the proposal, he will open the government’s wallet in January.

The health minister was responding to Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane in Dáil, who had asked for clarity on the salary issue.

Donnelly said: “I have asked for a brief and independent review of the current travel and accommodation allowance in the context of Covid-19.

“I also believe that a longer-term review of fourth-year student salary and assignments is necessary and I am committed to that.

“My Department is collaborating with representative organizations on this matter, and if they consent to the review, it is my intention that any recommended increase in Covid-19 related allocations will be in effect in January, as requested by representative bodies. . “