Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1239. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health to detail the additional resources that are being put in place to increase the number of placements for students on health and social care professional undergraduate programmes from September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36246/23]
View answerDepartment of Health officials engage with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the HSE and other relevant stakeholders to address any challenges in relation to the provision of clinical placements, and to ensure clinical placement supports are provided to support any future expansion of student places across Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCPs).
The Department of Health is supporting the HSE in partnership with the other relevant stakeholders to incrementally increase the number of Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCPs) student placements by implementing a multi-year plan, including establishing the required infrastructure at national and regional level, development and implementation of agreed local and regional level governance agreements for practice placements for HSCP students, and providing necessary resources and supports such as professional development opportunities. Additional funding of €7.2m was provided by the Department of Health in 2023 to support the ability to train, recruit and retain Health and Social Care Professionals. This funding will allow for additional clinical placements to support expansion of HSCP training places to address supply shortages in these professions.
