Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
863. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of expanding health and social care undergraduate places by 10%; and the number of course places this would generate, by course, in tabular form. [35124/23]
View answerThe matter of health workforce planning and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of qualified healthcare workers within Ireland is a major priority for my Department.As the Deputy will be aware, Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions responsible for their own academic affairs including the curriculum and student numbers on individual courses. Where the State seeks to see an increase in student numbers in a particular field of study, a specific engagement with the sector may be undertaken to determine the feasibility of securing the provision of additional places. For example, in March I received recommendations from the HEA in respect of the Expressions of Interest process that sought submissions regarding possible expansion of places in five disciplines – Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary.
The costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety 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.
Specifically in relation to health and social care professions, officials from my Department are engaging with Higher Education Institutions to ascertain possible expansion on existing programmes from 2023 (including in the health and social care professions). 420 additional healthcare places, including medicine, nursing; pharmacy; clinical measurement science and therapies will be provided from September 2023. In addition, the HEA’s next expression of interest process, which will focus on the expansion of places in allied healthcare areas, will take place later this year. My Department continues to engage with the Departments of Health and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify those health areas where there are specific skills shortages and to look at options to address such needs.
