Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. As she will be aware, the HEA is close to concluding a process to identify where additional capacity could be built in the higher education sector in a number of key areas, including veterinary medicine. As part of the process, the HEA is examining opportunities for new programme provision as well as the expansion of current programmes, and will determine a final list of options, which I expect to receive shortly. The HEA appointed an expert advisory panel to review new programme proposals. The panel included representatives from the Veterinary Council of Ireland, the statutory body responsible for the regulation of veterinary medicine in Ireland, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The Deputy will understand that before making any determinations regarding where a new school or additional places might go, my Department needs to receive that HEA report and consider the options and recommendations arising from it. On receiving recommendations from the HEA, which I expect to receive shortly, I will engage with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to consider how best to take this forward.

The process is independent. There has been a lot interest and competition from different parts of the country to host the new veterinary school. However, I have yet to receive the recommendations of the HEA and I want to respect the fact that it is an independent process. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to comment on any particular institution. It is great that there is so much interest and that we have gone beyond the point that it is all about one veterinary school. There is now an acceptance that we need to expand in this space. It is utterly wrong that so many Irish students are going abroad, often to parts of eastern Europe, to study veterinary medicine. We can do more and better here.

I am also conscious of regional issues in the context of this matter. I am conscious of the importance of having enough vets to work with larger animals, farm animals and the agricultural sector. As a Deputy and Minister, I regularly hear about that requirement. We will get the report shortly and that will tell us how Limerick has done as part of the process.

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