Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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19. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on the selection of the two locations for the new veterinary schools it is proposed to establish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23174/24]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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A proposal to establish two new veterinary colleges has been put forward. When will the two preferred locations be announced in order that those involved can get on with establishing these veterinary colleges, which will be very important for rural Ireland and those involved in agriculture?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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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.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I wish the Minister well in his new position. This is the first time I have had the chance to do so publicly. I accept that the process is ongoing. I know that the Minister and his colleague, the Minister for agriculture, will look at the financial supports and how they will be brought together. The Minister mentioned that the decision on where these veterinary schools will be located is important from a regional perspective. I hope due consideration will be given to the Mountbellew-Atlantic Technological University, ATU, application on the basis it will serve the north and west region which is a region in decline. We need to provide all of the infrastructure we can in order to try to being it up to being a region that is actually developing. I am making the case, blatantly, that we need to ensure one of these colleges is located in the west of Ireland in order that it might serve the north and the west. I hope that, ultimately, we will be in a position to celebrate in this regard. However, it is important that funding is provided and that the decision is made as quickly as possible in order to allow the colleges to put these programmes in place in order that people do not have to emigrate to Poland and other places in order to pursue their course.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his warm wishes. The decision relating to this matter will be based on a number of key indicators I have already outlined with regard to the provision of additional spaces. I know that the Deputy has a particular interest in one location is his area. He is to be commended for raising this in the Dail. The decision will be made in a collaboration between ourselves, the HEA, the Department with responsibility for agriculture and others to make sure the criteria set out about regional balance, value for money, the speed at which it can be delivered and how quickly we can get to meet the requirements that have been laid out not just by vets themselves but by farmers.

Deputy Canney represents a farming community, as do I. Many farmers will tell you that there is a need to provide a little help in terms of getting additional numbers into the area. That is a good thing. It proves that much of what we hear in this place about farming being a dying industry is not the correct - far from it.

It is farmers engaging with vets who are, in many cases, showing that there is a requirement for this to be expanded. It is something our Department will take very seriously. I take on board the affirmation the Deputy made for the County Galway site.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I thank the Minister. I take solace from the fact he spoke about regional development. It is important we are all singing off the same hymn sheet. It is also important for colleges to have a decision as soon as possible. Many pieces of the jigsaw need to be put together, but I believe the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is on board. I look forward to an announcement at the earliest possible date.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I do not have anything more to add. We are taking this issue very seriously. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement with regard to this as soon as possible. However, there is a caveat having had regard to all of the indicators I set out, which the Deputy will appreciate as a former Minister.