Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I am not sure how much time he will give me for all of them. Maybe it will be five minutes, which is excellent.

First, with regard to Deputy Colm Burke's question, I know he had a good meeting with the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, on these matters. The Minister's Department met the Department of Health, UCC and Trinity on increasing the number of undergraduate courses available. Further information is being provided to the two Departments by TCD and UCC on the proposal to increase places and the requirements for personnel and placements in the health sector arising from any increases in student numbers. The Deportment of Health has allocated some funding to help with the development of the sustainable practice education broadly for health and social care professionals this year. The national health and social care professionals office in the HSE is co-ordinating this process and leading on a number of programmes to support practice education for health and social care professionals, which will include identifying essential requirements. The Department of Health will continue to engage with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and higher education institutions with regard to the radiation therapy courses.

Deputy Nash asked a question about the D Hotel and I will ask my colleague the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to respond quickly.

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