Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 503: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the decision was taken by her Department to locate the proposed school of podiatry in a university; the reason an institute of technology was deemed unsuitable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32637/06]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 515: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a chairperson has been appointed to chair the inter-Departmental or inter-agency committee which is to be established to progress the strategic development and implementation of the school of podiatry; the persons who will be the members of this committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32686/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 515 together.

Meetings are continuing at an official level between my Department, the Department of Health and Children, the Higher Education Authority and the Health Service Executive in relation to a proposed School of Podiatry. Pending the finalisation of these discussions it is not possible to advise when a call for proposals to establish the School will issue.

No decisions have been taken on the location of the proposed School of Podiatry. However, the delivery of clinical training, which is a significant core component of the course, must be facilitated in an integrated manner with Health Service Executive services. The Health Service Executive's view is that a school of podiatry would be best located in a large centre of population, one that is associated with a multi-disciplinary health professional environment and which is linked to a major teaching hospital.