Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I received an email from a third-year medical student who is attending Ulster University. The course is located on Magee campus in Derry and, this year, the students are based in hospitals throughout the east trust in Northern Ireland. Many of those studying medicine at Ulster University are from the Republic of Ireland. The student was shocked to find out this week that upon their graduation in 2025, it is unlikely they will be able to apply for internship posts and work as doctors in the Republic of Ireland. This is due to the HSE requiring transcripts of their final degree from the university at an earlier date than is possible. This issue is in addition to administration and means that many students who wish to work in the Republic of Ireland will instead opt for a two-year foundation training course located in the UK. The student states it is disappointing that these issues have not been resolved despite the HSE being aware of the course for the past three years, and probably many years prior to that. The student further states that at a time when retention in the HSE system is critical, it is ridiculous not to allow medical students the chance to work in the Republic of Ireland. The student asks the Minister to discuss the matter and provide a resolution, if not awareness, to most of the issues that have been raised.

This is a serious situation. The Minister has made funding available for medical students to attend these universities. We are paying for them to study medicine. These students want to come and work in the Republic of Ireland but they are not being allowed to do so.

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