New childcare support for student nurses
Published: 28 April 2008
DHSSPS announces new childcare allowance for nursing students
RCN Northern Ireland has welcomed the introduction of a new childcare allowance for nursing students in Northern Ireland, announced by Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety Michael McGimpsey.
RCN Northern Ireland, in partnership with its Association of Nursing Students membership, has been campaigning for student nurses in Northern Ireland to be eligible for the same financial support with childcare as is available to their colleagues in England, Scotland and Wales. The Minister's announcement means that they will now be able to access an allowance of up to £1185 per year. This has been backdated to 1 September 2007 for students who started their course on or after this date.
RCN Northern Ireland Employment Relations Officer Stephen McSherry said: "We are pleased that the Minister has listened to our concerns and has introduced this new allowance. It will help to ensure that many student nurses who would otherwise have been forced to drop out of their courses will now be able to continue with their studies.
"This will ultimately help to increase the number of home-grown nurses here in Northern Ireland and improve efficiency by ensuring that public money is not wasted on educating nurses who are unable, through no fault of their own, to continue with their studies."