Ryan calls for Student Nurses to be paid a fair days pay for a fair days work.
Kildare South Sinn Féin TD, Patricia Ryan, has called for Student Nurses to be paid commensurate to the work they are doing.
Speaking in the Dáil this week, Patricia said:
“It is often said that nursing is a vocation, but this pandemic has proven this much more. I have been contacted by many student nurses over recent months and the stories I have heard are shocking. Many student nurses work for free during the day and then work nights and weekends as care staff to pay for their fees and expenses while they are on placement. While they work in hospitals, they might receive up to €50 per week if their placement is far enough away from their university. This is not enough to cover bus fares and lunches, let alone other expenses. Our student nurses are burnt out and this Government has the cheek to say they do not do real work. They have held the hands of the sick, the lonely and, sadly, now, the dying.”
“I sometimes get anxious when I see the number of cases, which is high at the moment. Our death toll is particularly high. Although I have heard many harrowing stories, I can only imagine how anxious those on the front line must feel. On top of that, they have to worry about passing on the virus to their loved ones, all the while trying to make ends meet.”
Speaking after the debate, Patricia said:
“I am glad the Government did not oppose our motion. All of our student nurses need proper pay and terms and conditions. We do not want any more token gestures or false promises. Enough is enough. It is time to do the right thing. The government is hiding behind the report compiled by Professor Tom Collins, former chair of TU Dublin , which has been partially leaked. It should be published in full immediately. Now is the time for action,” she concluded.
Link to the debate:
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2021-01-20/2/#spk_6