Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
90. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of medical places available in universities in Ireland; if there are plans to increase this; the number of places on these courses are taken by non-EU students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7504/23]
View answerAccording to the HEA's Student Record System, in the 2021/22 academic year in total there were 7,200 students enrolled across all years of medicine programmes. Of these, 3,600 were non-EU students.
The 2021/22 statistics are the most recent available. However, since this time, a significant agreement has been reached with the medical schools to increase the number of places for Irish and EU students.
Last July I announced, along with the Minister for Health, an agreement to increase the number of annual intake places available for Irish and EU students by 200 per annum. This increase is being phased in and 120 of the 200 places will be available for Irish and EU students from September 2023.
It must be understood that the funding model for medical education in this country has relied on the cross-subsidisation of places for Irish and EU students by the fees paid by non-EU students.
The agreement to increase the level of funding for existing places, to move them to a more sustainable basis, was key to unlocking this expansion in Irish and EU place.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Higher Education Authority has conducted an expression of interest process for Higher Education Institutions interested in building capacity in Medicine, along with Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Veterinary.
I expect to receive the final report of options for my Department to consider in the coming days from the HEA.
