Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied with the number of pharmacists being trained; if she has records of the percentage of graduates who successfully find employment here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22030/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Bacon Report, "Assessing Supply in Relation to Prospective Demand for Pharmacists in Ireland", and the subsequent Report of the Higher Education Authority Forum on Pharmacy Education in 2000 both outlined the need for additional undergraduate pharmacy places in order to address the severe manpower shortage in the profession. There has been a significant increase in investment by the State in the education and training of pharmacists. Undergraduate pharmacy courses are now provided by University College Cork and the Royal College of Surgeons, in addition to the course provided by Trinity College Dublin. In the 2005/2006 training year 72 pre-registration graduates undertook training. This number increased to 125 for the 2006/2007 year, to 144 for 2007/2008 and will be in the region of 180 for 2008/2009. The total number of undergraduate and pre-registration students under the accreditation programmes of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) in 2007 was in the order of 800.

Neither my Department, or the PSI, maintain records on the percentage of pharmacy graduates who are currently employed.