HSE offers €1,500 to attract overseas nurses to Ireland

The HSE is to offer a tax-free €1,500 relocation expenses package to encourage nurses and midwives working abroad to take up posts in the Irish health service.

The HSE is seeking to attract up to 500 nurses and midwives working in the UK and further afield to work in Ireland under the new initiative.

Ian Tegerdine, HSE national director of human resources, said a relocation package was available for nurses and midwives who wished to come and work in the Irish health service and who applied for posts through the new recruitment campaign. The HSE said the package on offer included: up to €1,500 tax-free removal/relocation expenses including the cost of flights subject to Revenue guidelines on allowable removal expenses; the cost of registering for the first time with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; funded postgraduate education; incremental credit for experience gained outside Ireland.

The HSE said there were vacancies in a wide range of hospital and community facilities and it was seeking to attract up to 500 nurses and midwives from the UK and elsewhere to Ireland.

It said it was hoped that many Irish nurses and midwives working in the UK in particular would take up the opportunity to return home and work in the Irish public health services.

Mr Tegerdine said the campaign would focus on connecting with nurses and midwives in the UK and further afield via advertising on social media channels and newspapers.

The HSE said that those taking up employment would receive a salary scale of €27,211-€43,800 with additional pay for shift and differentials.

It said it was also offering nurses and midwives permanent contracts of employment, as well as opportunities for continuing professional development and sponsorship programmes for specialist post-registration education and Masters study.