Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2023
207. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline his engagement with the Minister for Health to increase the number of graduates from clinical therapies, including but not limited to occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and psychology, to address shortages in the health services. [14294/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant engagement is ongoing between my Department, and the Department of Health to develop a joined-up approach to meet system level demand across the health sector.
My Department does not place a quota on the number of places available on programmes therapy disciplines such as; speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology, that is decided by the relevant Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) according to their capacity.
As the Deputy is aware the Higher Education Authority (HEA) recently sought expressions of interest from higher education institutions interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary from academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26. The HEA have advised higher education institutions that it intends on using a similar Expression of Interest process in 2023 to build capacity in the therapy disciplines.
There are some fundamental issues, which are in the control of the health sector, which are prerequisites to enable expansion. These relate to guarantees of clinical placements, detailed and robust workforce planning projections and engagement with regulators. In addition to qualifying additional therapy discipline professionals, success in the recruitment and retention of health professionals by the health sector will be key.
A working group, including representation from the Department of Health, HSE and CORU, as well as the higher education sector, has been established to specifically examine how placements can be secured to facilitate greater numbers of training places.
Future growth of provision in the higher education sector will be dependent on action in these areas by the appropriate authorities in the health sector.
My Department is committed to working closely with the Department of Health and its agencies to ensure that the conditions are in place to support further growth in educational provision.
