Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 529: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will permit the expansion of NUI Galway to establish an Ulster Connacht medical school; if it will allocate funding to the university for the establishment of such a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38687/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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On the 1 February 2006 the Minister for Health and Children and I published the report of the Fottrell Working Group on Undergraduate Medical Education and Training. Among the recommendations of the Fottrell Group was that a graduate stream of entry to medicine be introduced and that graduates of honours Bachelor degree programmes should be eligible to apply.

It is anticipated that the Higher Education Authority will shortly issue a competitive call for proposals to provide the new graduate entry programme, with a view to additional places being provided on this programme from 2007. It will be open to NUI Galway to submit a proposal in response to this competitive call.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 530: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the Government is considering the allocation of capital funding to upgrade and expand facilities on the campus of the National College of Art and Design; when she expects such funding to be allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38719/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Officials from my Department along with the officials from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) recently met with the authorities of the National College of Art and Design in relation to its campus development. The College was requested to consider and put forward options for the delivery and management of the proposed development and provide an implementation programme.

The HEA has not received the College's proposals to date. I await the views of the HEA before considering the matter further.