Colleges of Nursing (Hansard, 16 January 1996)

Mr. John D. Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many colleges of nursing there are in Northern Ireland; how many students attend each college of nursing(a) in total and (b) from the Republic of Ireland; what is the value of the bursary paid to a student from the Republic of Ireland; to what extent this bursary is means-tested; and what is the estimated cost to public funds for the annual expenditure for Republic of Ireland students. [8227]

§ Mr. Moss
The information is as follows:

There are six Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery in Northern Ireland

Training Institution Number of students in training Number of students from ROI¹

Eastern Area College— Northside 429 82

Eastern Area College— Southside 397 46

Northern Area College of Nursing 371 26

Southern Area College of Nursing 257 63

Western Area College of Nursing 232 89

NI College of Midwifery 54 6

Totals 1,740 312

Figures as at 31 December 1995.

¹Republic of Ireland.

Controlled/non-Catholic maintained Catholic maintained Total

Numbers £ million Numbers £ million Numbers £ million

Belfast Education and Library Board 1,382 33.3 1,573 37.3 2,955 70.6

North Eastern Education and Library Board 2,593 60.6 1,122 27.4 3,715 88

South Eastern Education and Library Board 2,241 54.7 914 22 3,155 76.7

Southern Education and Library Board 1,646 38.5 2,153 50.4 3,799 88.9

Western Education and Library Board 1,130 27.6 2,038 48.1 3,168 75.7

Voluntary grammar/grant-maintained integrated — — — — 3,290 72.2

538W
The amount of bursary payable to students is not dependent on their Country of Origin and information on bursaries in payment is therefore not held by Country of Origin. Bursaries are not means tested.

Mr. Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland applicants were refused places in 1995 in the colleges of nursing; and what priority is accorded to students from the Republic of Ireland over students from Northern Ireland in the provision of places. [8228]

§ Mr. Moss
Experience has shown that, on average, there are approximately 10 applicants for each student place.
No priority is accorded to students from the Republic of Ireland as all places are awarded on a merit basis.

There are six Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery in Northern Ireland
Training Institution	Number of students in training	Number of students from ROI¹
Eastern Area College— Northside	429	82
Eastern Area College— Southside	397	46
Northern Area College of Nursing	371	26
Southern Area College of Nursing	257	63
Western Area College of Nursing	232	89
NI College of Midwifery	54	6
Totals	1,740	312
Figures as at 31 December 1995.
¹Republic of Ireland.

	Controlled/non-Catholic maintained	Catholic maintained	Total
	Numbers	£ million	Numbers	£ million	Numbers	£ million
Belfast Education and Library Board	1,382	33.3	1,573	37.3	2,955	70.6
North Eastern Education and Library Board	2,593	60.6	1,122	27.4	3,715	88
South Eastern Education and Library Board	2,241	54.7	914	22	3,155	76.7
Southern Education and Library Board	1,646	38.5	2,153	50.4	3,799	88.9
Western Education and Library Board	1,130	27.6	2,038	48.1	3,168	75.7
Voluntary grammar/grant-maintained integrated	—	—	—	—	3,290	72.2