The British government is phasing out bursaries worth £5,000 a year to foreign nursing students. The move will be a blow to Irish students who seek training places in Britain if they fail to qualify for one of the 1,500 student places in the State.
In Britain, nursing places increased from 18,732 in 1997 to 34,953 last year. A spokesman for the National Health Service said yesterday no figures were kept for Irish students but it was recognised they played a significant role in the past.
The bursary is being withdrawn because it applies to students taking the diploma course. Students studying for a nursing degree do not receive the bursary.
He accepted it was a case of "levelling down" to end a discriminatory process, as well as a move to encourage students to opt for the degree course.
Tuition fees, which cost £1,000 a year, will still be paid for foreign students by the NHS. The spokesman added the bursary would be withdrawn from December 1st but would be paid to foreign student nurses already in the system.
SIPTU and UNISON, the British public service union, launched a joint campaign to keep the bursary. According to UNISON's regional secretary, Mr Michael Walker, there is a 20,000 shortfall in nursing staff in Britain. He said both unions would lobby politicians "to defend the link between Irish and English nursing".
SIPTU nursing officer, Mr Oliver McDonagh, said the loss of nurse training places in Britain would be a severe blow to the Irish health service because many nurses returned to work in the State after qualifying.
"The points system in Ireland makes it extremely hard for many suitable applicants to obtain places here. If the bursary is withdrawn it will make things twice as difficult," he said.