Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, the Higher Education Authority recently ran a process to identify options to expand higher education provision in a number of priority skills areas, including veterinary medicine. Proposals were put forward by a range of higher education institutions under this process. The options identified have the potential to significantly increase the numbers of students who would be able to take up places and to become vets in the future.

It is important to say that a substantial capital investment would be required to support the development of any new veterinary school. Consideration is ongoing as to how these capital costs could be met, and I am working closely with my colleague, the relevant line Minister, Deputy McConalogue, on this. At the point when we have established the available level of funding, I will ask the HEA to re-engage with the higher education sector on the potential options and we will progress to a process considering a range of factors including alignment with skills need, deliverability, regional considerations and value for money.

My Department does not place a quota on the number of places on veterinary medicine courses offered by higher education institutions. Ministerial approval is not required for an institution to establish a new school if it is in the position to do so itself.

I am continuing to work with the Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on progressing this matter.

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