Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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774. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 1298 of 21 March 2021, the quota for EU medical students each year since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22214/21]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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777. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 1298 of 21 March 2021, if an analysis has been conducted on the appropriate level to provide the quota for EU medical students since the Fottrell Report was published in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22217/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 735, 774 and 777 together.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the intake quota of medical students per year is available in the table attached.

The Medical Education in Ireland: A New Direction report, known as the Fottrell Report (2006) outlined a recommended quota of EU and Non EU Medical Students. No further analysis has been conducted on the appropriate level to provide the quota for EU medical students since the Fottrell Report was published in 2006.

Ireland is committed under the World Health Organization’s Global Code on the Recruitment of International Health Personnel to strive for self-sufficiency with regard to the training and supply of medical specialists. The goal of the Department of Health is to develop a sustainable medical workforce to staff the health service to deliver the service.

Following Medical School the first year of post graduate medical training is the intern year. The Deputy may wish to note that the HSE intend to review the number of medical intern posts in a planned and targeted manner for July 2022 to ensure any increases in intern posts aligns with projected workforce planning and postgraduate training positions. The outcome of this review with the recommended number of intern places for July 2022 will be presented to the Department of Health, later this year.

Quota for EU medical students in Ireland, 2005 - 2020

* The 2020/21 figures do not include any additional places sanctioned as a result of the calculated grades process.