The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) said today (Thursday, 13 th Oct.) that the restoration of incremental credit for 2011-2015 nursing graduates announced by the Minister for Health, Simon Harris should help in the efforts to recruit and retain nurses in the Irish health system.
PNA, General Secretary Designate, Peter Hughes said he was pleased that Minister Harris had recognised the unfairness of the serious pay anomaly for nurses where an incremental credit for a 36 weeks nursing internship had only been restored to graduates from 2016 onwards.
‘PNA and the other nursing unions made the very strong case that this anomaly was one of the barriers to recruiting and retaining nurses in our health system. It would have made absolutely no sense to try to proceed with the recruitment of up 1,000 nurses as announced in the Budget while this clear anomaly remained for 2011-2015 graduates. We commend the Minister for recognising this and moving to resolve the issue.'
NOTE TO EDITORS :
In 2015, PNA and other nursing unions agreed the restoration of the increment for 36 weeks Nursing/Midwifery Internship from 2011 onwards. However, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DEPER) later amended part of the agreement, and only sanctioned recognition for 2016 graduates onwards.
The direct result of that move is that 2011-2015 nursing graduates were earning less than their colleagues pre 2011 by as much as €1,260 for 2011-2013 graduates and 1,200 for 2014-2015 graduates.
Media Contact: Derek Cunningham 086-2430535
