Third Level Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2021

Wednesday, 10 November 2021

Ceisteanna (190)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

190. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 673 of 2 November 2021, if he will explain the discrepancy between the 708 quota on EU entrants into medicine, 468 undergraduate and 240 graduate entry and the actual enrolment figures of 734, 480 and 254; the means through which the quota is applied upon higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55021/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

My Department sources its statistics on student enrolments from the HEA's Student Records System. The figures provided as part of Parliamentary Question No. 673 of 2 November 2021 related to first year enrolments in medicine courses. Therefore these figures contain first year repeat students in addition to new entrants.

In addition, in recognition of the particular circumstances and pressures faced by leaving certificate students in 2020, my Department worked with the HEA and the Higher Education Institutions to create additional places across the system, including some in medicine courses. In the case of courses such as medicine and nursing, where a quota is set on places for EU students, my officials worked with officials in the Department of Health to ensure that students accepted above the quota could be facilitated in placements.