Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 May 2022
327. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the urgent actions that his Department is taking to address the critical issue of retention of healthcare professionals in Ireland; if his Department is engaging in cross-Departmental discussions in regard to third-level capacity for specialist medical courses and training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26414/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth and Social Care workforce planning and retention and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified healthcare professionals in Ireland is a top priority for the Government.
Department of Health officials engage on an ongoing basis with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that we train enough graduates with the skills necessary to support the delivery of health and social care services and to develop a strategic approach to workforce planning for the health sector.
Ongoing discussions between both Departments are in relation to increasing domestic supply of health and Social Care graduates in the short term, through the immediate provision of additional places, and the longer-term planning being undertaken around future skills needs in context of future demand for health and social care services.
Both Departments have been engaging with the Irish Medical Schools regarding the creation of additional places in medicine for EU students in September 2022 and beyond. Discussions are at an advanced stage, and it is hoped that a significant number of additional places will be created.
Officials from both Departments have engaged with the Higher Education Authority and the Higher Education Sector to identify where additional places can be provided in the higher education system for the next academic year. These additional places will be targeted at areas of acute skills need and will include places in healthcare courses such as nursing and medicine and other health and social care professions. This work is at an advanced stage, and it is hoped that a significant number of additional places will be created on health-related courses in September 2022.
I recognise that in respect of the issue of the retention of healthcare professionals in Ireland, the focus must be on improving the training, working conditions, work life balance and career pathways for staff working in our healthcare system. Accordingly, the number of medical training places has been increased to support further growth and to address challenges in recruitment and retention of doctors.
