Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Kilkenny is also open for business. Last year, we got great news in the sunny south east region with the announcement of a new veterinary medicine programme to be established in the campus of Kildalton agricultural college in Piltown, County Kilkenny, a venue the Taoiseach visited with me last year. It brings with it a multimillion euro capital expenditure for Kildalton, which will be a huge boost to south Kilkenny, including Kilkenny's agri and education sectors, and a game-changer for veterinary students who no longer have to leave the region, and in many cases their country, to study veterinary medicine. There is a large shortage of qualified vets for farm animals and pets and a high demand for existing veterinary courses. As a Government, we need to prioritise the acceleration of accreditation by the Veterinary Council of Ireland through the inclusion of the new programme in the CAO listing in the 2025-26 year to provide for an annual intake of 40 students, commencing in September of next year.

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