Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
72 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has completed her considerations on the composition and terms of reference of an implementation group to look at the proposed aptitude test for entry to medicine courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30525/04]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my predecessor, and the current Minister for Health and Children established a working group on undergraduate medical education and training to review the organisation and delivery of medical training and education in Ireland. The group has recently presented interim recommendations for significant reform of the entry mechanism to medical education. These recommendations include the introduction of a multi-streamed model of entry to medicine, comprising undergraduate and graduate entry methods, with leaving certificate performance no longer the sole selection method for entry at undergraduate level.
In this regard, it is proposed that selection for entry to undergraduate medicine would have two stages. Anyone opting for medicine who achieved 450 leaving certificate points would be eligible for consideration with places to be allocated on the basis of performance on a separate entry test. These recommendations are a very welcome attempt to address the tremendous pressures being placed on students in the second-level system as a result of the extremely high leaving certificate points required for entry to medicine and certain other disciplines. It is important that the significant implementation issues associated with this proposed change are carefully attended to.
I am currently considering the composition and terms of reference of an implementation group for this purpose and intend to bring forward proposals shortly on this front.
