Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Conway-Walsh makes an important point. First, I agree with her that we have an opportunity as a country now to have a conversation about how we make sure we are producing enough graduates to provide the level of public services that our citizens will expect and deserve, post Covid. That is why my Department is working, not just in its own silo but also with other Departments, to determine whether it is possible for a university to provide an additional college place for medicine and for a hospital to provide an additional clinical placement to match that. I assure the Deputy that those conversations are under way. The Taoiseach and every member of Government has been clear that financial resources will not be a constraint in terms of expanding the number of places but I must be honest with the committee that there are issues, other than financial constraints, that can be challenging. That is what we are working our way through at the moment.

Second, we are pulling all of the stakeholders together to engage with the Department and I am expecting to receive a report back from that work in April. I will then bring it to Government and seek any additional funding that might be required for any further places we can provide. We will be more than happy to share our thinking, rationale and workings with the committee at that stage.