Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2006
99 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans to introduce an aptitude test for applicants to medical education courses; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that such a test has already been developed by the University of Cambridge which is widely used in Britain; the nature of the test she is considering; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5729/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra103 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science the type of aptitude testing to be applied to prospective medical students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5563/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra147 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the time of year that prospective medical students will be expected to take an aptitude test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5565/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra155 Mr. English asked the Minister for Education and Science when medical places will be expanded for Irish students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5566/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra159 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science the nature of future testing to be applied to prospective medical students at leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5564/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 103, 147, 155 and 159 together.
On the 1 February 2006, the Tánaiste and I published the report of the Fottrell working group on undergraduate medical education and training. In addition, the Tánaiste published the report of the postgraduate medical education and training group. These reports represent the most significant review of medical education and training ever undertaken in Ireland and are aimed at responding to the needs of a changing health system and ensuring that medical education in Ireland is sufficiently resourced and developed to maintain our reputation for producing quality doctors into the future.
With regard to medical education, I am increasing the annual number of undergraduate places for Irish and EU students from 305 to 485 and am introducing a separate graduate entry stream which will provide 240 additional places per annum. These increases, which will be phased in over a four year period, will increase the annual number of medical places from 305 to 725. At undergraduate level, an additional 70 places will be provided this autumn, with a further 40 places being provided in 2007 and a further 35 places in each of 2008 and 2009. The Higher Education Authority will begin immediate consultations with the existing medical schools on the provision of the additional undergraduate places.
The authority will also issue a competitive call for proposals to provide the new graduate entry programme, with a view to the places being provided on this programme from 2007. Graduate entry, which will be open to graduates of all disciplines, will allow students to make a decision to enter medicine at a more mature age and should result in a more diverse range of entrants into the profession.
While a number of aptitude tests are mentioned in the Fottrell report, no decisions have been made in this regard. I do not favour the use of interviews to determine aptitude and have asked the Higher Education Authority to establish an expert group to develop a standardised test that, drawing on best international practice, will evaluate aptitude and suitability for entry to the graduate programme. This selection test will be in place for 2007. The time of year that students will be required to take the test will be a feature of the expert group report.
The Fottrell report also proposes that all students with 450 leaving certificate points be considered for selection for undergraduate medical education on the basis of a separate aptitude test. While I am a keen supporter of the fairness and objectivity of the points system, I recognise that the pressures on students wishing to study medicine to achieve an almost perfect leaving certificate are excessive and unnecessary. For that reason I am anxious to explore the detailed options around a dual selection process. There is a need to ensure that the revised system will adequately reward strong academic performance, will provide an appropriate evaluation of aptitude and suitability for a career in medicine and will retain public confidence in its objectivity and fairness.
I am, therefore, also asking the HEA expert group to bring forward more detailed proposals on a proposed new undergraduate selection system, to devise an appropriate selection test for use at undergraduate level and to advise on the logistics of its administration. The expert group is to report to me by summer 2006 to allow a clear signal of any proposed changes to be given to the cohort of students entering the senior cycle in 2006. To allow adequate notice to students, the new entry procedures for undergraduate medical education will not be introduced any sooner than September 2008.
