HSE reviewed relocation package to ‘alert’ Irish abroad

The HSE’s international relocation package was recently “reviewed and updated”, with a particular aim of alerting Irish-trained graduates living abroad, this newspaper has been told.

The update did not involve any changes to the funding available through the relocation package.

The HSE offers a relocation package to assist candidates to meet the initial costs of relocating from abroad. The accommodation allowance covers a maximum of three months (91 days) after relocation to Ireland.

The total allowance payable to candidates from the EU and UK for flights and accommodation is €4,160 (€3,910 for accommodation and €250 for flights). The allowance for candidates from outside the EU is €4,710 (€3,910 for accommodation and €800 for flights).

This funding is in addition to other costs that are covered under the scheme, such as initial registration fees to regulatory bodies, visa fees, and aptitude test fees. The exact cost of these elements is dependent on where the candidate is relocating from, the discipline, and the post.

The international relocation package was reviewed “to ensure Irish-trained graduates understood that this facility was available to them to assist in returning home”, the HSE spokesperson told the Medical Independent (MI).

The spokesperson said most applicants who have availed of this package were recruited through international agencies or individual services that are advertising roles.

“Those eligible for payment of the relocation package, including those who have qualified in Ireland, will apply to that service for reimbursement of relocation expenses in line with the scheme.”

The spokesperson said information on take-up of the relocation package is not collated centrally and “we are unable to provide data on how many people have availed of the package to date”.

In January, MI reported that the HSE was undertaking “significant marketing overseas” to recruit consultants. The strategies included “targeted marketing” in Australia and New Zealand, close collaboration with training colleges and the Irish Medical Council, and “bespoke marketing campaigns” for posts that were challenging to fill.