Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be long-winded, I would say. There will be a lot of waffle heard now. This is an important debate. There is a need for a second or an additional place when it comes to veterinary schools. Everyone is aware of the issue of veterinary places. As Senator Daly said, this is the first time that almost every organisation we have spoken to is in favour. The actual profile of the vets was mentioned, and the number of vets we have at the moment. It is interesting to think that 30-year-olds and 40-year-olds are predominant on the veterinary register. We have a large number of vets currently going abroad to be educated. Are there figures for how many of them return? There is talk with the industry of exceptional leakage with Irish students who go abroad, and who might not come back to Ireland to practice? Is there an indication of where or what the leakage is with regard to the numbers who go abroad?