The Nurses Act, 1985, prescribes that all expenses incurred by the Board shall be defrayed out of funds at its disposal. These funds are generated through Annual Retention Fees paid by each nurse and midwife. The Board also charges administrative fees for other services provided.
The Act provides that the Board may, with the consent of the Minister for Health and Children, charge fees for the following services:
- The registration of a person in the register;
- The retention of the name of a person in the register;
- The restoration in the register of the name of any person whose name has been erased or removed pursuant to the provisions of this Act from the register;
- The giving to any person of a certificate of registration;
- The registration of any candidate for nurse training in any register maintained by the Board;
- Entry into any examination conducted by the Board;
- Applications to undergo nurse training;
- Any other service which the Board may, from time to time, provide.
The activities of the Nursing Careers Centre, which is managed by the Board to promote and market nursing as a career, are funded by the Department of Health and Children.