Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 October 2023
289. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the rationale for not addressing the cost of graduate entry medicine fees as a means for increasing the number of qualified medicine graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45383/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, graduate entry medicine is a pathway for degree holders who want to pursue a medical career on an accelerated four year programme. The Free Fees Initiative pays the tuition fees of eligible students undertaking their first full time undergraduate programme. The Free Fees Initiative does not meet fees in respect of students who are completing a second undergraduate degree, which by its nature Graduate Entry Medicine is.
I am prioritising expanding the overall number of medicine places so that more students will have the opportunity to study medicine, particularly on direct entry programmes. On 12th July 2022 the Minister for Health and I announced an agreement with the Irish medical schools to increase the number of places available for EU students by 200 over the next five years. This began with an additional 60 EU students in September 2022, climbing to 120 in September 2023, and will reach 200 by 2026.
Minister Donnelly and I committed at that time to prioritising funding an expansion on an equal basis, together with moving the funding of existing medicine places to a more sustainable basis. Moving to a more sustainable funding basis is required to reduce medical schools' reliance on fees from non EU students.
The July 2022 agreement included Graduate Entry Medicine additional places. To date an additional 10 graduate entry places, 5 in 2022 and another 5 in 2023 have been created, with the other 110 places on direct entry programmes.
This marked a significant expansion in the number of places available to students applying through the CAO system. It increases the opportunities for students to progress to study medicine in Ireland and to help us build our talent pipeline.
It is important to note that unlike other second undergraduate degree programmes the State does provide a subsidy to HEIs towards the cost of provision for EU graduate entry student places. The tuition fees payable by the student are determined by the HEIs taking the availability of this subsidy into account.
In the academic year 21/22 the state contribution was €11,950 per student with the balance of fees payable by the student. This subsidy is being increased incrementally to €14,500.
