Mr. Liam Moriarty:

The shortage is across the entire industry. We are also short in the companion animal side, but it will be most acutely felt in rural practices. Training methods could be changed and more places created. If 1,200 students apply for 82 places in UCD, we are getting the people who are top of the top academically. There is nothing wrong with that. It is a tough degree. People need to be strong academically to get through it. However, I am sure that many more of the 1,200 would have the smarts to get through that degree.

Students have to go to Dublin. Having a place in the west of Ireland would be a big advantage. We want these people to work in the west of Ireland. Let us train them there. They are going to the UK, eastern Europe or Dublin to train. UL has thought about this in medicine and has achieved success in getting a different outcome for their students. Medical students who graduate from UL are more likely to go into general practice than those who graduate from other universities. We are looking at a university that has a track record of doing it. It has been done here. It has been thought about and it has been successful. I think UL would also be successful if it had a veterinary programme. It has huge support. We had meetings with UL and people who work in all the different parts of the industry, including companion animals, equine and rural practices.

It really has taken into consideration what we would like to see in the graduates so there would be a great complementary service to UCD.