Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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1575. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to change the current regime whereby only students from the richest families can access graduate-entry medicine given the high costs involved of €100,000 and the fact that the only loan provider to this group is now pulling out of the loan provision; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the graduate-entry salary of €36,000 is too low to allow these doctors to live near hospitals and repay high student loan costs; his views on whether the high student costs and low entry salary is contributing to the stark lack of newly qualified doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20176/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Graduate Entry Programme for medicine has been a significant success as an alternative pathway for graduates and degree-holders to pursue medicine as a career option.  The costs of the course are high given that the initial degree has already been obtained. I am aware that the loan provider concerned has recently announced that it is leaving the market. 

It is noted that the salary referred to by the Deputy for the 'Intern year' is a requirement to achieve registration and only applies for one year following completion of the Degree. It therefore is not the pivotal issue. However, acknowledging that the costs associated with pursuing medicine through the Graduate Programme had already been highlighted as a significant barrier to entry prior to the recent announcement, the matter does require consideration to ensure the Programme achieves the desired objective.