Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The short answer to Deputy Farrell's question is "Yes, absolutely". We need to move beyond the year to year and look at how we can systemically create a better structure that works for the health service, the higher education institutions and students. If we get this right, the prize can be significant, with a large expansion of third level education in health and social care services. That is a prize worth getting right and I hope to update the Government with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, on that this month.

To Deputy Colm Burke's question on postgraduate funding, I will look at that because I am not sure as to how or why that anomaly arises, but I will be happy to revert to him directly on it. The note with which I have been provided tells me there are between 25 and 35 students in each year of the bachelor of science degree in radiation therapy at Trinity College Dublin. In addition to that, there are 15 students in University College Cork master's programme in radiation therapy. If Deputy Burke is asking me whether we intend to grow the number of places in radiation therapy at third level, the answer is "Yes". We intend to grow it to some extent this year and to move significantly beyond that in 2024 and thereafter.

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