Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 March 2024
335. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the additional places proposed to be in place for the next academic year in medicine, nursing and other healthcare professions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13486/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring an expanded number of third level places in healthcare programmes is a priority for my Department. It is important to note that Higher Education Institutions are autonomous and the Department does not place a cap on the number of places. This is decided by the relevant Higher Education Institution in line with their capacity.
In February 2024, along with Minister Donnelly, I announced an agreement reached with Queen's University Belfast, for the funding of twenty five (25) additional medical places for qualifying students from Ireland or Northern Ireland in Queen's from September 2024. These places will be co-funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Health. Students who take up one of these places will commit to applying and accepting, if offered, a position in the HSE as an intern at the end of their studies.
Last September also saw an increase of 460 places on healthcare programmes, this included an additional 60 places in Medicine. These places are permanent additions to our system. In relation to nursing, 255 places were added to the system in September 2023, on top of 135 additional nursing places added in 2022. One hundred and forty seven places (147) were also added across a range of prioritised allied health disciplines including Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Measurement Science and Medical Science. This was on top of 126 places in 2022.
Nursing is also now available as a tertiary programme through ATU with the first intake of students on this programme commencing in September 2023 with 20 places available in each of the ATU’s campuses at ATU Donegal, St Angela’s in Sligo and ATU in Mayo. Tertiary programmes enable students to begin their programmes in further education colleges, and continue to complete their degree in a higher education institution.
I was also pleased to recently announce a range of additional healthcare programmes to be offered as tertiary programmes from September 2024 including a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Health Promotion through SETU and KWETB. A Bachelor of Science in Mental Health Nursing and General Nursing will also be offered via Cork ETB, Kerry ETB and MTU Kerry.
Further information on all of these programmes is available on the NTO website at National Tertiary Office (hea.ie)
In July 2022, Minister Donnelly and I announced an agreement with the Irish Medical Schools which saw the addition of 200 places for EU students in our medical schools. These places are being introduced on a phased basis up to 2026, with 60 places added in September 2022, 60 places in September 2023, 40 places in September 2024 and 20 places in both September 2025 and September 2026.
With the ongoing expansion in places across the six medical schools here, and the places at Queen’s University Belfast, by September 2024 an increase of 25% in medicine places for students will have been delivered relative to September 2021.
A number of institutions have put forward proposals outlining options for the expansion of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Dentistry and Veterinary programmes but also for the development of entirely new programme following last year’s Higher Education Authority Expression of Interest process. Engagements are now underway with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital investment to enable this expansion. I will continue to work with my colleagues the Minister for Health and the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to the options identified.
