A major recruitment drive to entice Irish nurses who are working abroad to come home has seen 320 applications.
The HSE drive was launched last month in a bid to fill 500 vacant nursing, midwifery and psychiatric nursing full-time posts.
Under the scheme, nurses would be given relocation costs and free flights worth €1,500, and their €100 nursing registration fee will be paid.
The Irish Independent reports that 320 applications have been submitted and shortlisted, with 90 of those already interviewed or about to be interviewed.