NHI Response to Announcement of HEI Partnership for Postgraduate Diploma for Private Nursing Homes

Monday June 17, 2024

Statement by Tadhg Daly, CEO, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) re Announcement of Higher Education Institute partners for the new Postgraduate Gerontological Nursing Diploma for Private Nursing Homes

Nursing Homes Ireland welcomes and acknowledges Government funding for the new partnership initiative to deliver a Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing in the private nursing home sector.

The €3.2m postgraduate training programme will provide State support for registered nurses in private nursing homes to obtain a Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing to be delivered by four universities ATU, RCSI, TCD, UCC, and LHP Skillnet.

Today, jointly announced by Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD and Minister for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins TD, have declared four universities in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, and Sligo that are to partner with LHP Skillnet in 2024 to deliver a Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing.

Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), said the announcement of the partnership was an extremely important step to further support the quality of care delivered to nursing home residents across Ireland.

“NHI continually champions education and supports for all nursing homes to engage in the vital training necessary to provide care to the highest standards. Seeing the partnership between LHP Skillnet and the four universities in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway and Sligo, is much welcomed to further support the quality of care delivered to nursing home residents.

“As a member of the LHP Skillnet steering group, NHI has actively supported this initiative from the outset so I would like to thank the Ministers and their officials, who have engaged constructively with NHI on this programme, for their committed work in this respect. We very much look forward to working with Departments on similar initiatives in the care of the older person in the future.”

The funding, announced last February, will be provided over two years and will fund places during the academic years of 2024/2025 and 2025/2026.

All private nursing homes will be invited to apply for one Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Level 9 Gerontological Nursing Qualification placement over this period.

NHI will circulate information related to the HEIs partnership to all eligible nursing homes with full details of each course.