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National campaign to pay student nurses launched in Killarney

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By Sean Moriarty
Killarney Municipal District is to seek the support of all other Local Authorities in the country after it passed a motion to pay student nurses.
Cllr Donal Grady sought the support of his elected colleagues at Wednesday’s Killarney Municipal District (KMD) meeting.
As a result of his motion, KMD is to write to the Minister for Health, Mr Stephen Donnelly,
requesting the immediate introduction of payment to student nurses, once they take up placement duties.
“I ask that it would be circulated to all other Local Authorities requesting their support,” added Grady after the motion was passed.
As of October 1 last year, the salary for a student nurse on 36 weeks placement stood at €15,056, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwifes Organisation (INMO). This works out at almost €11 per hour but this only applies to nurses in their final year of their degree.
First to third year students get an allowance of €50.79 per week towards accommodation - but this is only payable if their placement is away from their usual place of residence.
Last December, the Irish Government voted not to pay student nurses despite their efforts during the pandemic.