Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and his team who are here with us today. Those in Galway were absolutely delighted to see the development of accommodation. Close to 600 or 700 units have been opened up. That is absolutely phenomenal. We are seeing close to 2,000 beds of on-campus accommodation for the University of Galway, which was sorely needed. The rent-a-room scheme is really crucial. Access to that scheme allows people to provide a room and get rental income without having an impact on social protection income or any other benefits. That is absolutely crucial. We need to continue seeing that. The digs experience was a big part of my own college experience, as it is for many first years. We definitely need to focus on that.

My focus is on some of the areas mentioned here that the Cathaoirleach has outlined for the Minister and his team. The Minister knows where I am based. We talk about it an awful lot. In Roscommon, Galway and Ballinasloe, we have challenges because we are growing towns. I want to see our town double in size but we have challenges around access to GPs in rural areas. This is not unique to where I live and come from. Many people will say that there are long waiting lists and that they cannot get to GPs or that they cannot even join a GP practice's patient list. I am really delighted to see innovative proposals coming through and being submitted to the HEA. I 1,000% back those innovative proposals that are going to change the paradigm as regards what is being offered. Some of those courses are looking at how to promote graduate medical entry, with a particular focus on rural graduates.

Those courses will be delivered in, for example, Saolta hospitals. In particular, I am referencing the application from the college of medicine in the University of Galway. That application is incredible in terms of what it can deliver. We view this not just as an issue for the west, but for any rural area on the western seaboard where there is a small population dispersed over a wide area. We have challenges, and this course could be a game-changer. I would like to know the Minister’s thoughts on this matter. I would also like to hear his thoughts on what is being done about GPs in rural areas. Practice nurses are a related issue, of course, and pharmacies will be able to manage repeat prescriptions from April, a measure that has been brought in to reduce the pressure on GP practices.

Regarding veterinary courses, I know of large animal veterinary practices in rural agricultural areas that are in dire need but cannot get vets. We as a Government and the Department are fighting hard to address the skills gap. The Minister works closely with his colleagues in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, including the Minister, Deputy Coveney, in that regard. There is a skills gap, particularly in veterinary skills relating to large animals. The proposed course that links Letterkenny and Mountbellew with the expertise in Atlantic Technological University could be a game-changer for the west, although it would have an impact across a wider area. It would produce more vets. We have such a shortage. The Minister has met Dr. Edna Curley in Mountbellew. She told me about how she had students training to be vets who were doing their practical experience with her. They are training in Poland. People from east Galway are going to Poland to become vets but doing their practice in Mountbellew. We are in dire need of additional graduates now, not five years ago. We need a decision on funding soon.

If I may, I will pose some options. The HEA is considering courses across a wider area, but I will focus on the ones I have mentioned specifically, including pharmacy. I do not know whether the Minister has comments to make on them.