Minister for Health James Reilly has signalled his intention to extend the controversial graduate recruitment scheme for nurses to other areas of the health service.
Despite the low take-up for the nurses’ scheme, Dr Reilly says he may introduce a similar scheme for physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other professions.
This is despite a recent decision by his department not to extend the State internship programme JobBridge to physiotherapy graduates, as the Minister proposed last year.
Sinn Féin said the Minister’s proposal typified his “cavalier attitude” in the face of opposition from nurses.