I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for the question. As I know the Deputy is aware, the Higher Education Authority, HEA, has now completed the first stage of an expression of interest process for higher education institutions interested in building capacity in dentistry, pharmacy, medicine, nursing, and veterinary medicine. The second stage of this process has now commenced with the recent announcement by the Higher Education Authority of the appointment of an expert advisory panel to review the opportunities for new programmes covered by the process. The panel comprises representatives from Departments and regulatory and professional bodies who have direct professional experience and-or academic expertise in the relevant disciplines, or knowledge of the higher education system at a senior level.
Higher education institutions are, as we all know, autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs and course provision. The accreditation of courses with the relevant regulatory authorities in Ireland and abroad is a matter for individual institutions in line with this autonomy. EU Directive 2005/36/EC provides for mutual recognition of qualifications of a range of professions, including veterinary surgeons, on the basis of co-ordinated minimum conditions for training. The Veterinary Council of Ireland, VCI, is the competent authority as regulator with a robust accreditation processes to ensure all veterinary training in Ireland meets international standards. Any programmes, and this is important, deemed viable by the HEA will be subject to Veterinary Council of Ireland accreditation processes to validate them and to ensure high standards of veterinary medicine in Ireland through its accreditation. Such accreditation enables professional recognition in Ireland which then further affords access to registration in the UK, Europe and beyond. As the expert panel is currently reviewing the applications, it is not possible to say at this time how many places may be delivered, although I expect to receive their report next month and will be happy to share it with the Deputy then. The Higher Education Authority will consider opportunities for new programme provision alongside options for current programme expansion to develop a final list of options to present to me next month. My Department will then consider these options having regard to workforce plans and projected demand for graduates from relevant line Departments.
In short, specifically in relation to veterinary, there is an expert panel in place. Both the chief veterinary officer and the Veterinary Council of Ireland are represented on it, as is the HEA and others. I may get a chance to go through the criteria in my next response.