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Nursing Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022

Tuesday, 1 March 2022

Questions (800, 801, 802, 803)

Duncan Smith

Question:

800. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of the engagements he, advisers or officials in his Department have had with the Minister for Further and Higher Education or his officials in relation to increasing undergraduate nursing and midwifery places since September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11709/22]

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Duncan Smith

Question:

801. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of the engagements he, advisers or officials in his Department have had with the Minister for Further and Higher Education or his officials in relation to increasing undergraduate medicine places since September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11710/22]

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Duncan Smith

Question:

802. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of the engagements he, advisers or officials in his Department have had with the Minister for Further and Higher Education or his officials in relation to increasing undergraduate biomedical science places since September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11711/22]

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Duncan Smith

Question:

803. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of the of engagements he, advisers or officials in his Department have had with the Minister for Further and Higher Education or his officials in relation to increasing undergraduate radiography places since September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11712/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 800 to 803, inclusive, together.

Ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified healthcare professionals is a key priority. The challenges presented by Covid-19 have given extra urgency to the need to address the long-term workforce planning needs of the health system. It is critical that we continue to attract, train, and retain sufficient appropriately qualified healthcare workers to ensure the health service can meet the projected future demand for healthcare.

Officials in my Department engage on an ongoing basis with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science on determining the longer-term skills needs of the healthcare sector, and the role which the Further and Higher Education sector can play in meeting those skills needs. It is recognised by both Departments that there is a need to ensure the availability of graduates with the skills necessary to support the healthcare system and to support a strategic approach to workforce planning for the health sector. 

The Department is engaging with DFHERIS regarding the number of places in health disciplines including medicine, nursing, health and social care professionals including Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language therapists, Psychologists, Physiotherapists, Social Workers, Medical Scientists, Dieticians.  These are high priority areas for the HSE in the context of delivery of the Enhanced Community Care Programme and where the HSE has identified significant skills shortages.

DFHERIS officials are currently engaging with the Higher Education Authority and representatives from the higher education sector on the provision of additional places for the coming academic year, with a focus on areas such as healthcare where there is a need for more skilled graduates.

Officials in my Department will continue to engage with officials in other Government Departments, the HSE, regulatory and professional bodies to ensure that there are sufficient undergraduate places across the health system to address skills shortages and meet the future workforce needs of the health sector.

Question No. 801 answered with Question No. 800.
Question No. 802 answered with Question No. 800.
Question No. 803 answered with Question No. 800.
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