Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1246. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10%; and the number of places that this would create for medicine. [29910/22]
View answer1248. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10%; and the number of places that this would create for nursing and midwifery for each specialism. [29912/22]
View answer1249. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10%; and the number of places that this would create for dentistry. [29913/22]
View answer1250. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10%; and the number of places that this would create for speech and language therapy. [29914/22]
View answer1251. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10%; and the number of places that this would create for physiotherapy. [29915/22]
View answer1252. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10%; and the number of places that this would create for occupational therapy. [29916/22]
View answer1253. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10% and the number of places that this would create for psychology. [29917/22]
View answer1254. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10% and the number of places that this would create for pharmacy. [29918/22]
View answer1255. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10% and the number of places that this would create for medical science. [29919/22]
View answer1256. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10% and the number of places that this would create for paramedicine/paramedical studies. [29920/22]
View answer1257. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10% and the number of places that this would create for clinical nutrition and dietetics. [29921/22]
View answer1258. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10% and the number of places that this would create for counselling and psychotherapy. [29922/22]
View answer1259. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing Irish and European Union undergraduate places by 10% and the number of places that this would create for social work. [29923/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1246, 1248, 1249, 1250, 1251, 1252, 1253, 1254, 1255, 1256, 1257, 1258 and 1259 together.
The costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. It is therefore not possible to definitively calculate the costs sought.
To provide the Deputy with an indication of the potential costs associated with increased places the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has provided the following estimate. Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), the estimated cost of a 10% increase in full-time undergraduate students (excluding Non-EU fee paying students) is c.156,000,000 – €188,000,000. This based on an average cost of €10,000 - €12,000 per student. Please note this estimate excludes any additional costings which may be met by other agencies or departments.
In terms of student numbers in the specific undergraduate courses queried the HEA provided the below estimates:
- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments where Social Work (or equivalent) is included in the title of the programme (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), a 10% increase in enrolments would create c.34 additional social work student places.
- Based on 2020/21 full-time and part-time enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students) where counselling and psychotherapy is included in the title of the programmes, a 10% increase would create c.25 additional student places.
- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate programmes where nutrition and dietetics is included in the title of the programmes, a 10% increase in enrolments would create c.128 additional nutrition and dietetic student places.
- Based on 2020/21 all full-time programmes where paramedic is included in the title of the programme, a 10% increase in enrolments would create c.36 additional student places.
- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU enrolments) where medical science and biomedical science is included in the title of the programme, a 10% increase would create c.53 additional student places
- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), a 10% increase would create c.70 additional pharmacy student places.
- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), a 10% increase would create c.195 additional psychology (undergraduate Level 8 honours degree programmes where psychology is included in the title of the programme) student places.
- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), a 10% increase in enrolments would create c.39 occupational therapy student places.
- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), a 10% increase in enrolments would create c.61 additional physiotherapy student places.
- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), a 10% increase in enrolments would create c.35 additional speech and language therapy student places.
- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), a 10% increase in enrolments would create c.28 additional dentistry student places.
- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), a 10% increase in enrolments would create c.714 additional nursing and midwifery student places.
- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), a 10% increase in enrolments would create c.347 additional undergraduate medicine student places.
