Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today we have a fantastic announcement from the higher Education Authority, HEA, on the extension of third level courses. A number of university courses have been shortlisted to progress to the next stage both in healthcare and in veterinary. We know that recruitment is a challenge particularly in regional areas. Recruiting GPs and experts in regional and rural areas has always been a challenge. We are seeing it more and more now. With these courses, graduate medical entry into the University of Galway, potentially graduate students will spend time in primary care networks throughout the west as well as in Saolta hospitals, including Portiuncula in Ballinasloe, University Hospital in Roscommon, Castlebar, Letterkenny and Sligo.

The HEA is also looking to deliver pharmacy courses in the west for the first time. It needs to happen. Veterinary courses in the Mountbellew campus of the new Atlantic Technological University, ATU, will expand and develop world-class research in Mountbellew. It is the only agricultural college in the west of Ireland. We have world-class third level teaching and research.

I welcome Professor Martin O'Halloran, who is in the Visitors Gallery. Professor O'Halloran leads the BioInnovate programme at the University of Galway. He has been awarded a European Research Centre, ERC, proof of concept grant. He runs multidisciplinary research teams. I went to the BioInnovate symposium last week, a programme of needs-led innovation using bio design methods that has entrepreneurs and researchers working together to identify needs and make patients' lives better. What does success look like for BioInnovate? It has 81 fellows, 120 industry trade, 22 seed fund projects, €10.5 million in Enterprise Ireland commercialisation funding, 11 spin-out companies, €29 million raised in seed and series A funding, and €48.5 million in exits. These companies are making a difference to people's lives and this programme is highly successful. I was very fortunate to work with Professor O'Halloran in the health innovation hub before I joined this world, working with entrepreneurs, startups and healthcare teams with fantastic ideas across the Saolta hospital network. We have excellence in teaching and research. Professor O'Halloran here today is testament to that.