Sponsorship is available for support staff in the Irish public health service who want to become nurses or midwives. To be eligible for this scheme, you must be directly involved in delivering care to patients or clients in a nursing context.
For example, healthcare assistants and multi-task attendants are eligible for this scheme. If successful, your basic salary is paid for the duration of your nursing or midwifery degree programme.
You will be expected to return to your substantive post outside of the academic semesters for the duration of the programme.
Who can apply?
To apply for this sponsorship scheme you must:
- have at least 2 years relevant service in the Irish public health service on the 1st January of the year when you apply
- have a satisfactory service record
- be over 23 years of age on the 1st day of January of the year in which you apply for sponsorship
- have successfully passed a written assessment test administered by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)
How to apply
Apply for a place on a programme
An eligible employee intending to apply for sponsorship must first of all make a formal application through the Central Applications Office (CAO) as a mature applicant.
Apply for a place on the pre-registration nursing or midwifery degree programme at one of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) involved in the delivery of the programme.
Being offered a place by the CAO does not guarantee an offer of sponsorship.
Closing date for CAO applications is 1st February 2021
Pass the online assessment test
Registration for the test opens on the NMBI website on the 22 April 2021 and closes on 28 April 2021 at 1pm.
Registered applicants can take the test anytime during from the 22 to 28 April 2021. Further information will be available on the NMBI website in advance of the test.
Apply for sponsorship
Apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Unit (Kilkenny) for sponsorship by 5pm Friday 11th June 2021.
Send your completed application form to:
Sponsorship Applications
Nursing & Midwifery Planning & Development Unit
HSE South-East Office Complex
Kilcreene Hospital Campus
Kilkenny
After you complete the programme
You must register as a nurse or midwife with NMBI right after you complete the 4 year degree programme. You will also be asked to sign a service agreement and commit to work as a registered nurse or midwife in the Irish health services for a period of 5 years after registration.
For further details contact: [email protected]