Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2004
260 Ms F. O’Malley asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the fact that 1 July is the last date in the CAO system for change of mind slips to be considered, a clear decision will be made on the future training of medical doctors, having regard to the deadline, in regard to the basic degree that students sitting their leaving certificate this year should opt for if they wish to pursue medicine as a career. [17393/04]
View answerStudents sitting the leaving certificate examination in 2004 and wishing to pursue medicine as a career can apply for undergraduate medicine in 2004 in the normal manner through the CAO. Application will be processed and offers made in the normal way.
On 24 September 2003, together with my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, I announced details of the membership and terms of reference for a working group on undergraduate medical education and training. It was jointly established to make recommendations on the organisation and delivery of high quality training for doctors here.
The working group will examine and make recommendations on a range of aspects of medical education and training in Ireland. It was asked to consider and provide advice on issues arising from the recent Higher Education Authority's report that recommended a move to all graduate entry for medicine and other health science disciplines. I requested that the HEA commission the report on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government to address the issue of the distortionary impact of these high points courses on the points system.
The report recommends that students should undertake an undergraduate programme of their choice in any area before taking a decision to enter medicine or one of the other health science disciplines. The other programmes in question are physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and radiography, all of which currently require extremely high points for entry. The working group's initial consideration of the detailed implementation issues that arise for medical education will also inform my approach to the proposed later introduction of changes for the other health disciplines. I expect to receive the working group's recommendations later this year.
