John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the policy change regarding payment to fifth year pharmacy students on work placement; his plans to intervene to reinstate payments to students; the reason tuition fees have increased for fifth year students in view of the fact that the students spend three months teaching and the remaining eight months on unpaid placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25058/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The education and training of pharmacists to first registration is specified in EU legislation (Article 44 of Directive 2005/36/EC) and consists of a five-year education and training programme, which must include a minimum of six months’ practical training under the supervision of a pharmacist.

In Ireland, the Pharmacy Act 2007 conferred responsibility on the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the pharmacy regulator, with respect to pharmacy education and training.

The PSI is an independent statutory body and is responsible for defining and ensuring the standards of education and training for pharmacists qualifying in Ireland. This includes developing standards, policies and carrying out accreditation of pharmacy degree programmes.

The changes in the degree programme structure arise from the recommendations of the Pharmacy Education and Accreditation Reviews project and implementation has been overseen by the National Forum for Pharmacy Education and Accreditation which includes representatives of PSI, Department of Health, Higher Education Authority, community, hospital and industry pharmacists, patient, student and international expertise.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Education and Training) (Integrated Course) Rules were signed by the Minister for Health in 2014.

These Rules underpin the implementation of the new five-year fully integrated Master’s degree programme in pharmacy which evolved from significant review of the previous training pathway, and international best practice assessment in this area. They also gave effect to new accreditation standards that were developed by the PSI and place the Core Competency Framework for Pharmacists on a statutory footing.

In that context, it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the changes to the Pharmacy programmes.