Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2023
482. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional third level places will be made available across different disciplines in health and social care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7439/23]
View answerSignificant engagement is ongoing between my Department, the Department of Health, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, to develop a joined-up approach to meet system level demand across the health sector.
The Higher Education Authority is also currently running a process to identify where further additional capacity could be built in the higher education sector in a number of healthcare areas including Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry and Veterinary. It is the intention that another process for other disciplines will be run later in the year. The Higher Education Authority will consider opportunities for new programme provision alongside options for current programme expansion to determine a final list of options to present to me in the first quarter of this year.
Health and social care programmes are by their nature complex in delivery. The availability of appropriate placements and placement supports is a key enabler of expansion. A working group, including representation from the Department of Health, HSE and CORU, as well as the higher education sector, has been established to specifically examine how placements can be secured to facilitate greater numbers of training places.
There are some fundamental issues, which are in the control of the health sector, which are prerequisites to enable expansion. These relate to guarantees of clinical placements, detailed and robust workforce planning projections and engagement with regulators. In addition to qualifying additional health professionals, success in the recruitment and retention of health professionals by the health sector will be key.
Future growth of provision in the higher education sector will be dependent on action in these areas by the appropriate authorities in the health sector.
My Department is committed to working closely with the Department of Health and its agencies to ensure that the conditions are in place to support further growth in educational provision.
