Vol. 572 No. 6
235 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to make people waiting to do undergraduate courses in medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy and so on do a primary degree in science first; if so, when he intends to introduce this course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24182/03]
On 24 September 2003, together with my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, I announced details of the membership and terms of reference for a working group on undergraduate medical education and training which has been jointly established to make recommendations on the organisation and delivery of high quality training for doctors in Ireland. The membership of the working group draws on a broad representation from medical academia, university, hospital and health board management and Department officials.
The working group will examine and make recommendations on a range of aspects of medical education and training in Ireland. This will include the areas of course curriculum, teaching methods, inter-disciplinary working and other issues relating to the organisation and delivery of undergraduate medical education and training.
In this regard, the working group has been asked to consider and provide advice on issues arising from the recent Higher Education Authority report that recommended a move to all graduate entry for medicine and other health science disciplines. I have already signalled my support for the broad thrust of that report which was commissioned by the Higher Education Authority at my request on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government to address the issue of the distortionary impact of these high points courses on the points system.
The report recommends that students should undertake an undergraduate programme of their choice in any area before taking a decision to enter medicine or one of the other health science disciplines. The other programmes in question are physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and radiography, all of which currently require extremely high points for entry.
The Higher Education Authority report contends that removal of entry selection to these high points programmes from the CAO system will have positive benefits for individual students in terms of reduced pressure and enhanced educational experience at senior cycle in second level. It can also enable second level students to select undergraduate programmes on the basis of their aptitudes and preferences before deciding to embark on a specific career oriented choice at postgraduate level. Arguably, the determination of career choice at a later stage should have a positive impact on morale and retention in the professions concerned and ensure a wider variety of entrants with a greater range of background experiences and skills.
The initial consideration by the recently established working group of the detailed implementation issues that arise for medical education will also inform my approach to the later implementation of the proposed changes for the other health disciplines.
