No job offers for dozens of new Midland nurses - Laois TD Willie Aird

Dozens of newly qualified nurses are waiting since June to be offered jobs in Midland hospitals, with some at risk of losing rent deposits.

Laois TD Willie Aird has quizzed the junior Minister for Health on why 36 new nurses are still waiting for contracts and start dates at Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise, Tullamore and Mullingar.

He tackled Minister of State Jennifer Murnane O’Connor in the Dáil on Tuesday, November 11, rejecting her assertion that the HSE does not have a recruitment embargo.

“I am raising the concerns of 36 newly qualified nurses who have completed their university education, undertaken clinical placements and obtained professional registration.

“These graduates completed their HSE recruitment process in June. They are qualified, registered and ready to work but they are unclear about when they can begin their careers. How has this situation been allowed to arise?,” he asked.

Deputy Aird noted that in 2024, the HSE announced that nursing and midwifery graduates would be offered permanent employment.

“That commitment was reinforced through engagement with the unions in 2025. These graduates had every reason to expect a clear route to employment. Some have signed rental agreements and made financial commitments in anticipation of starting work,” he said.

He also asks if agency nurses are being used instead, at a higher cost to the state.

“Can the HSE explain why permanent appointments cannot proceed and whether agency expenditure represents the best use of public funds?

“If hospitals are identifying staffing needs but cannot make appointments due to financial restrictions, who has the authority to resolve this problem?

“It is welcome that 974 graduate nurses and midwives nationally have confirmed start days. I welcome that approximately 834 are expected to commence before the end of the year. That is progress, but it does not address the circumstances of these 36 graduates. I am asking the Minister of State to address these matters directly.

“First, can she immediately clarify to me when these 36 graduates will be offered contracts and commencement dates? Second, will she ask the HSE to provide a breakdown of approved and funded vacancies at Portlaoise, Tullamore and Mullingar?

“Third, what safeguards will be introduced to ensure future graduate recruitment campaigns are properly aligned with funding posts and working requirements?

“We want nurses to build their careers in Ireland and make a contribution to our health service. We cannot invest in training healthcare professionals and then force them to find employment abroad. These graduates deserve certainty,” the Laois Fine Gael TD said.

Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor replied on behalf of Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

She said that her own daughter is a nurse.

“I was concerned to hear recent reports that offers made to newly qualified nurses were subsequently withdrawn or delayed. The Deputy raised this issue.

“This is not acceptable and is not how we should be treating our graduates. The HSE must make every effort to provide employment opportunities for nursing and midwifery graduates but it is important that offers are made in the right locations,” she said.

Minister O’Connor said 97 out of 105 nursing graduates in the Midland region including Laois, were offered jobs this year, with 88 accepting.

“The HSE knows how many nurses and midwives are due to graduate each year, and must plan its recruitment accordingly. Retaining these graduate nurses and midwives is essential to the future of the health service and a priority for the Minister.

“However, recruitment must also be strategic, matching graduates to the services and locations where the need is greatest while being aware of the impact on the overall pay bill.

“Nationally, there are 1,375 graduate nurses and midwives, of whom 1,145 have been offered positions to date, with more than 1,000 accepting.

“In addition, the Department issued approval last week for the recruitment of all remaining graduate nurses and midwives included in the submission received from the Dublin and midlands region,” the Minister of State in the Department of Health said.

“There is no recruitment embargo in the HSE, and recruitment has not been stopped,” she added.

“Strengthened recruitment controls are in place in four regions, including Dublin and the midlands, to ensure that appointments are affordable, properly prioritised, and directed to areas of greatest need,” she said.

She said replacing agency staff is key.

“Nationally, agency expenditure was €536 million in the eight months to the end of August, 11.7% above budget limits.

“Recruiting graduates directly into roles currently being filled through agency staffing would help retain newly qualified professionals in the public health service, build a more stable permanent workforce, support safe care and service capacity, and deliver better value.

“HSE staffing has increased by almost 30,000 whole-time equivalents since December 2020, with nursing and midwifery accounting for 9,924.

“The priority must now be to build on that investment by retaining graduate nurses and midwives, strengthening the permanent workforce, reducing reliance on agency staffing, while ensuring recruitment remains aligned with need and the pay bill.

“The Department is engaging closely with the HSE to monitor the recruitment of graduate nurses and midwives. While individual appointments are operational matters for the HSE, the Department expects these decisions to be processed promptly and graduates to be given clear and timely information regarding an employment offer,” the Minister said.

Dep Aird answered by asking “when will the 36 newly qualified nurses start work”.

“I refute what the Minister of State has said. I am too long on the road to accept it. These 36 nurses are out there and still do not have contracts of employment. I need specific answers from the Minister of State about Portlaoise, Tullamore and Mullingar. Can she confirm that the HSE will urgently review the 36 cases, identify the approved and funded vacancies and provide realistic commencement dates?” he asked.

The Minister began to read out her statement again and Minister Aird repeatedly interrupted to say “there is no point”, that the nurses are unemployed, and that recruitment has stopped.

Minister Murnane O’Connor then agreed to come back with specific information on the 36 Midlands nurses.

Deputy Aird also raised the case of a children's occupational therapist post in County Laois which he said had been vacant for three years.

He told the Dáil that the position had been recruited and accepted, but the HSE had subsequently withdrawn the offer.

He said two families in Laois had contacted him during the week about access to occupational therapy services for their children.

He asked the Minister of State to investigate the matter urgently. She said she would raise it with the Minister for Health and the HSE.