I appreciates the contribution that both direct entry and graduate entry medical graduates make to the Irish health system, and hope that all graduates of Irish medical schools will find rewarding careers in the Irish health system, as it develops in the future years ahead.
I have no plans at present to introduce a return of service arrangement for those studying graduate entry medicine. However, the Deputy may wish to note that the Programme for Government Our Shared Future commits to the Department of Health working with the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies, to improve the availability of health professionals and to reform their training, in order to support integrated care across the entire health service.
It is in this context that issues such as return of service arrangements will be considered, taking account of the availability of health professionals and future health workforce planning needs.