David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 276 of 20 November 2007, her Department's policy in relation to ensuring that practical training and work experience is accessible to persons trained under special educational schemes to train health professionals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33997/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The responsibility for curriculum development is a matter for the higher education institutions, having regard to internal and external quality assurance systems, and institutional strategy. I would fully expect that institutions in so developing such curricula would have regard to the needs of all students participating. I would be happy to consider any specific details further should they be brought to the attention of my Department.

It is my understanding that the higher education institutions who provide such courses generally reach agreement with local hospitals or other clinical settings to provide clinical training opportunities for students. The actual arrangements for delivery of these training opportunities are a matter for the Department of Health and Children, and the Health Services Executive.