Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has confirmed that the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has informed him that her Department has given approval to the HSE to issue employment contracts to 184 newly qualified nurses in the HSE West and North West region – 62 of the graduate nurses have been approved for Galway University Hospital.

Minister Canney said that contracts will now issue to all nurses who graduated earlier this year and had previously accepted offers of employment but were awaiting formal approval.

“This is very positive news for the newly qualified nurses who have been waiting for their contracts to be approved.

“I understand that the Department of Health has given the necessary approval to the HSE for contracts to issue to those nurses who graduated this year and had already accepted offers of employment.

“I am satisfied that this issue has now been sorted.

“These nurses have worked hard to achieve their qualifications and I want to wish each and every one of them the very best of luck as they embark on their careers.”