Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The graduate entry medical programme is important if we are to develop greater numbers of doctors, but there is a problem. This problem arises where these students must pay from €12,000 to €14,000 per year for as long as seven years, ending up with a debt of approximately €100,000. I know one person who has ended up with a debt of €130,000. These students have been able to get a bank loan in many cases, but because of the interest they must pay they will find it impossible to pay off their loans, will never be able to afford a mortgage or afford to get married.

The problem is that the interest on their loans cannot be deducted. If a person opens a business, borrows from the bank and pays interest to the bank, that interest can be written off against tax. However, the medical students cannot do that. This presents a challenge for us - the challenge to keep doctors in Ireland rather than force them to emigrate. It is nearly impossible for these young people to graduate and stay in Ireland based on their debt.

The very simple solution would be to treat the loans as business loans so medical students could write off the interest against tax when they start to practise. On that basis, we would have a much better chance of being able to ensure doctors stay in Ireland rather than being forced to emigrate.