Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2023
447. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the assessment procedures to be used in relation to the submissions from colleges to establish the proposed new school of veterinary medicine in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3172/23]
View answer448. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the assessment criteria upon which the decision to establish the proposed new school of veterinary medicine in Ireland is based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3173/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 447 and 448 together.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA), is the funding and regulatory body for higher education in Ireland. The HEA has been working through a process to identify opportunities in the higher education system to build capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary. This HEA process is designed to respond swiftly to national skills needs by identifying options for programme creation or expansion in academic years 2024-25 or 2025-26.
The HEA has designed this process to identify capability and capacity within the higher education system to develop viable programme offerings for further consideration by the appropriate regulators in due course.
This process is being conducted to the highest standards by the HEA and will be externally validated as such, including by an Expert Advisory Panel. As the process is ongoing the HEA is not releasing further details at this point in time.
An expert panel is to review all applications in the coming weeks. The HEA will then make recommendations to the Minister on where capacity can be increased across the country in these disciplines.
