Minister for Mental Health and Government Chief Whip, Mary Butler TD, has welcomed a key commitment from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to offer permanent contracts to all 2025 graduate mental health nurses. The announcement, confirmed by HSE CEO Bernard Gloster, ensures that employment offers will be issued by 19 September 2025.
Minister Butler described the move as a “positive step” for Ireland’s health service, highlighting its potential to enhance workforce stability and improve patient care. “Providing certainty for new graduates at the start of their careers is vital,” she said, adding that permanent contracts will reduce reliance on agency staffing and foster continuity in mental health services.
The initiative follows sustained engagement between the Department of Health, psychiatric nursing unions, and HSE officials. It forms part of a broader strategy to address staffing shortages and strengthen service delivery across the country.
The HSE’s commitment applies to graduates across all nursing disciplines, including general, intellectual disability, and midwifery, as part of efforts to retain talent and meet growing healthcare demands.
