Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the decision was taken by her Department to locate the proposed school of podiatry in a large centre of population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28434/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As outlined in my responses to the Deputy's previous questions on the matter, responsibility for the establishment of a school of podiatry, including its location, will be a matter, in the final instance, for the Department of Education and Science.

However, as the Deputy was previously advised, the delivery of clinical training, which is a significant core component of the course, has been the subject of discussions between officials of my Department and the Department of Education and Science in terms of how best it could be facilitated in an integrated fashion with the Health Service Executive (HSE) services. The HSE has advised the two Departments of its view that the school of podiatry would be best located in a large centre of population, one that is associated with a multidisciplinary health professional environment and which is linked to a major teaching hospital. My Department is in continuing discussions with the Department of Education and Science and the HSE to progress this matter.