McGimpsey to introduce childcare allowance for student nurses

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today announced the introduction of a childcare allowance for Northern Ireland’s student nurses.

Nursing and midwifery students with dependent children will now be entitled to childcare costs up to £1,185 per year. This has been recommended as part of an ongoing Review of Student Support.

The Minister said: “Until now student nurses and midwives studying in Northern Ireland were not eligible for any financial assistance with childcare costs.

“One of my priorities on taking up office was the introduction of a childcare payment for student nurses. This welcome additional support will lessen the financial burden on student nurses and midwives.

“My department needs to provide an adequate supply of well-trained nurses who will be equipped to join the Health and Social Care (HSC) workforce and be at the forefront in the delivery of high quality patient care. The offer of family-friendly policies to students reflects the type of support they will receive if they work for HSC employers.”

A further change to take effect as a result of the Review of Student Support is the removal of the Single Parent Allowance, which will be replaced by a Parental Learners Allowance. Its introduction will lead to an increase in the number of students able to access the allowance.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Childcare Allowance and Parents’ Learning Allowance will be introduced with immediate effect for pre-registration student nurses and midwives, and can also be backdated until 1 September 2007. Students who started their course on or after 1 September 2007 will be entitled to apply.
2. In January 2007, the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) met with the then Minister Paul Goggins to discuss support for student nurses in Northern Ireland. The Minister subsequently asked the department to carry out a review of the bursary system for pre-registration nursing and midwifery students.
3. A working group was established and drew its membership from the RCN, Royal College of Midwives (RCM), UNISON, Queen’s University, University of Ulster, National Union of Students and departmental representatives. The group met between March 2007 and May 2007 and made recommendations to Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to modernise the bursary system.
4. In September 2007 Mr McGimpsey announced a new maternity allowance for Northern Ireland’s pre-registration student nurses and midwives. This allows students who need to take a leave of absence from their studies due to pregnancy and childbirth, to continue to receive their bursary payments for a period of up to 45 weeks.
5. The Student Support Review Group also made recommendations to provide a contribution to childcare payments and the introduction of a new Parents’ Learning Allowance to replace the existing Single Parents’ Learning Allowance. Both changes were subject to public consultation.
6. A 12-week consultation was held between 22 October 2007 and 11 January 2008. A consultation document was sent to 57 targeted recipients who were deemed to be stakeholders in the process of ensuring that Northern Ireland has a supply of qualified nursing staff.
7. Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.