Vol. 541 No. 4
480 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of places put aside for foreign medical students in third level colleges each year; if this is the reason for the huge increase in the number of points required by Irish students who wish to study medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22883/01]
There is no quota of places set aside for non-EU students in our medical schools. The latest figures available from the Higher Education Authority indicate that some 318 non-EU entrants were admitted to undergraduate medical degree programmes in the 2000-01 academic year. The level of non-EU places does not impact in any manner on the intake of Irish-EU students to undergraduate medical courses. This intake is the subject of a quota, which was introduced in 1980-81 following a report of the Higher Education Authority. The question of reviewing the current quota arrangements is currently being considered by my Department in consultation with the Department of Health and Children.
Finally, I am not aware of any significant increase in the points requirements for entry to the undergraduate medical degree programmes.
