Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on reports that students who have enrolled in University College Dublin's graduate-entry medical programme this year, may not have their degrees recognised by the Medical Council; if she will provide an update on the numbers of medical students enrolled for this year in total for medicine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29537/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from the Higher Education Authority that the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science currently offers an undergraduate course leading to the award of an MB BCh BAO honours degree in medicine. This degree has been accredited by the Medical Council.

As a pilot initiative this academic year, the School has enrolled 14 students with high grade honours degrees and high scores in a GAMSAT aptitude test into this degree programme. The ongoing modularisation of the programme allows for accelerated progression, and it is anticipated that these mature learners will complete the curriculum within four years compared with five years for the corresponding undergraduate intake.

These individuals will receive the same educational curriculum and assessment as the school-leaver intake albeit with some timetabling differences. The students will be taught in two 45-week calendar years as opposed to three 30-week academic years. The graduate students will receive identical clinical training in their final two years as current undergraduate students receive. The University has made the Medical Council aware of this cohort intake and, given that they are pursuing essentially the same curriculum with the same outcomes as an already-accredited programme, the University does not envisage any issues with the recognition of this degree. The final numbers of medical students enrolled for the current academic year in the institution is not yet available.