Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason is it necessary for medical colleges to charge overseas students to raise revenue at the expense of Irish students who are more qualified according to the CAO points system, which results in fewer Irish students studying medicine at a time when more Irish doctors are needed in the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28488/07]

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes that will be made to the CAO system to increase places for Irish/EU medical students if the High Court challenge to the quota is successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28282/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 352 together.

The process of increasing the number of Irish/EU places in medicine in Ireland commenced in 2006 following the acceptance by the Government of the report entitled "Medical Education in Ireland A new Direction" published jointly by the Department of Health and Children and my Department. The report (the Fottrell Report) called for an increase in medicine places to 725 (from 305) over a four year period. This is being achieved through the provision of an additional 180 undergraduate places, and the introduction of a new programme of graduate entry to medicine which will provide 240 places. In the 2006/07 academic year, an additional 70 undergraduate places were provided amongst the five medical schools and 40 additional places were provided in the 2007/08 academic year. A further 35 places will be provided in 2008/09 and 2009/10.

In addition to increasing the number of undergraduate places, a programme of graduate entry to medicine has commenced in the current academic year with 60 new places created. A further 60 graduate places will be provided in the 2008/09 academic year and the graduate stream will grow to 240 places by 2010/2011. Generally, it is open to higher education institutions to enrol non-EU students and this is in keeping with the report on the Internationalisation of Irish Education Services accepted by the Government and published in 2004, and the OECD Review of Higher Education published in 2004. It is a matter for institutions to determine the fees charged. I am aware that there will be a reduction in non-Irish/EU medicine places in our medical schools as part of the process of increasing Irish/EU places.

I do not propose to comment on a case that is before the courts.