Written answers

Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Department of Education and Skills

Third Level Admissions

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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594. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pharmacy entrants and graduates in each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9155/22]

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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595. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has engaged with the Minister for Health in order to establish a target, optimum number of pharmacy places in order to meet the needs of society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9156/22]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 594 and 595 together.

The information requested by the Deputy on pharmacy entrants and graduates is in the table below.

Year 1st Year Enrolments Graduates
2010/2011 173 160
2011/2012 191 161
2012/2013 186 140
2013/2014 184 151
2014/2015 193 166
2015/2016 200 169
2016/2017 192 145
2017/2018 200 182
2018/2019 201 168
2019/2020 210 164
2020/2021 221

My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services. 

The Programme for Government commits the Department of Health to working with the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies to improve the availability of health professionals and reform their training to support integrated care across the entire health service.  

My officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health on determining the longer term skills needs of the healthcare services, and the role which the further and higher education sector can play in meeting those skills needs. I will ensure that there is continued engagement with all stakeholders to ensure that we deliver graduates with the skills necessary to support our healthcare system and support the strategic workforce planning by the health sector.

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