DkIT nursing graduates are facing uncertainty over HSE jobs after completing training across hospitals in the North East, according to Louth TD Ged Nash.
Deputy Nash has called on the HSE to honour what he says was a commitment to offer permanent contracts to the 2026 graduating class.
The class includes students who trained across hospitals in the North East, including Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Louth County Hospital, Cavan General Hospital, Monaghan Hospital, and Navan.
Nash said many had expected to take up posts in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and warned that losing those graduates would add to staffing pressures at the hospital.
“Earlier this month, a student nurse, representing the graduating class of 2026 in Dundalk wrote to me and explained their concerns,” he said.
“The class consists of students who have trained across hospitals throughout the North East, including Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Louth County Hospital, Cavan General Hospital, Monaghan Hospital and Navan.
“Many of them were expected to take up posts in Our Lady of Lourdes in Hospital and their loss to that hospital will be devastating at a time when the hospital is already understaffed and under-resourced.”
Concerns over permanent contracts
Deputy Nash said the graduates had previously received correspondence indicating that the 2026 class would be offered permanent HSE contracts.
He said they are now being told that some graduates may begin employment before December, while others could be phased into posts next year.
“The Dundalk class previously received correspondence stating that the 2026 class would be offered permanent HSE contracts and that additional nursing workforce growth through the National Service Plan 2026 would bring new wards online,” he said.
“Despite this, they are now being told that only some graduates may commence employment before December, with others potentially being phased into employment next year but there is considerable uncertainty around even that loose commitment.”
Nash said he had raised the issue through a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Health, which was referred to the HSE for response.
According to Nash, the HSE response said retaining 2026 nursing and midwifery graduates was a “key priority”, but that recruitment had to be managed within the 2026 Pay and Numbers WTE allocation and available funding.
He said:
“While the HSE says that the retention of all 2026 Nursing and Midwifery graduates is a ‘key priority’, it says that has to be managed within the 2026 Pay and Numbers WTE allocation and the ‘available funding envelope’.”
Call for recruitment barriers to be removed
Deputy Nash also said he had been told the allocation of graduates for 2026 had been filled, although recruitment could continue through what he described as “agency conversion”.
He said the uncertainty was leaving newly qualified nurses questioning whether they had a future in the Irish health service.
“This leaves dozens of fully qualified nurses who have spent four years studying in Dundalk and working in hospitals in our region, feeling they are without a future in our own health service. If you have ever wondered why so many of our nursing graduates take the decision to move to the other side of the world, then here is your answer.”
He added:
“This cannot be allowed to stand. The HSE made a commitment to these nurses and it must honour that commitment and secure them the posts in our health service, they were promised.
“The government and Minister for Health for their part, need to look at this problem and remove any recruitment barriers that mean we cannot hire our own highly-trained nurses and give them the secure futures they deserve.”
