Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1341. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has reviewed the number of nursing places available in Ireland; if there are plans to increase the number of places due to the need for more nurses in Irish hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43587/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services, including nursing.
Additional places on nursing programmes have been secured for this academic year. Officials in my department continue to engage with the Higher Education Authority and representatives from the higher education sector on the provision of additional places in the tertiary education sector, with a focus on areas such as healthcare, where there is a need for more skilled graduates. However there are real, material limits on the immediate increases that can be accommodated on highly practical courses such as nursing courses which involve clinical placements.
In the longer term, the Programme for Government commits the Department of Health to working with the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies to improve the availability of health professionals and reform their training to support integrated care across the entire health service.
