Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue. He is speaking at an event in the midlands this evening. I have a more than passing interest in this area as the brother of a vet. We shared a house with him when he was in UCD.

Late last year, the Higher Education Authority, HEA, issued a request for expressions of interest for higher educational institutions interested in building capacity in veterinary medicine, among other disciplines. I understand some institutions were subsequently asked to submit more detailed proposals for further consideration. The HEA in response recently announced the appointment of an expert advisory panel to review opportunities for new programmes in areas including veterinary medicine. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, indicated in the Dáil last week that he expects to have those recommendations for consideration by him next month. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, indicated he is very pleased to see this initiative progress and develop.

The Government greatly appreciates the very valuable work veterinary practitioners undertake across our agricultural sectors, which are primarily livestock based, but also in supporting the health and welfare of our companion animals and, indeed, through their often unseen and unappreciated work in the food safety area. Over recent years, as the Deputy indicated, the demand for the services of veterinary practitioners across our society has been increasing, most especially in the companion animal area. This is a trend also seen across Europe. As the Deputy acknowledged, the number of Irish graduates from the excellent UCD school of veterinary medicine has not been able to expand to match this increased demand in Ireland. While we have always welcomed graduates from other countries coming to work in Ireland, recent data from the Veterinary Council of Ireland, VCI, which regulates the profession in Ireland, show a significant and increasing number of non-Irish educated graduates registering to practise in Ireland.

The VCI has reported that the numbers of veterinary practitioners on the veterinary register is currently at an all-time high, in excess of 3,300. Notwithstanding this, I agree with the Deputy, and the Government is aware there continues to be a significant number of vacant positions advertised on a regular basis, especially across the mixed-farm animal and companion animal sectors of the profession. We are particularly aware of concerns being raised about the availability of veterinary practitioners to provide services to the farming sectors across the country and difficulties in the filling of positions in certain areas. This is a matter that the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, is keeping under review.

Many of the non-Irish educated graduates being registered by the VCI are Irish citizens who have travelled to veterinary schools in different parts of Europe, including those referred to by the Deputy, and who return after graduating. This is reflective of the restricted availability of veterinary education opportunities in Ireland and where students who do not get a position at home must travel abroad to pursue their goal. While I cannot pre-empt the evaluation process currently ongoing, the Government does see significant potential benefit if additional student places could be provided in Ireland.

The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, and the Government would welcome such an outcome. We are a well-developed country with a strong education system. If, for any reason, a student wishes to study abroad then that is great, but we must be able to ensure there are enough places for people to study in Ireland, especially for an industry as critical as veterinary medicine. This would provide the opportunity for greater self-sufficiency with regard to the availability of veterinary practitioners in Ireland and provide opportunities for Irish students to pursue their career choices at home. Several educational institutions have submitted an interest in hosting a new veterinary course. This will be a matter for the review which will be published next month.

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