AQO 1301/22-27

Mr Pat Sheehan
Sinn Féin
West Belfast

Tabled Date: 28/11/2024
Answered On Date: 09/12/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether he has assessed the impact of increases in the cost of living on student nurses in receipt of a bursary.

Answer:

I am very much aware of the adverse impact of the cost of living crisis on students on pre-registration nursing programmes commissioned by my Department. However, any action to address this issue will have to be affordable.

In 27 September 2022, in response to the cost of living crisis, my predecessor as Minister, Robin Swann, announced changes to the rates of specific means-tested bursary allowances available to pre-registration nursing and midwifery students. This included increases of 15% in the dependants’ allowance for spouse or first child; the allowance for subsequent children; and parents’ learning allowance. The mileage allowance for students on clinical placement was also increased to bring it into line with current NICS public transport rates.

I am currently exploring with my officials possible future changes to the financial support provided to students on all pre-registration healthcare programmes commissioned by my Department, including nursing and midwifery.

This work will help to identify where the available support should best be targeted. My officials will be liaising with the universities and student representatives in order to understand better the issues involved. I anticipate that they will wish to consider evidence such as the levels of attrition out of pre-registration training programmes and the numbers of nursing and midwifery students accessing university hardship funds.

Any proposed changes will be subject to wider consultation with a range of key stakeholders. Proposals will need to take into account affordability, in the context of the well-documented financial pressures facing my Department and the wider Health and Social Care system.