David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1217. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of medical, dental, nursing and all health and social care training and undergraduate places across all courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29086/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1262. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of undergraduate places across medical, dental, nursing, midwifery and all health and social care disciplines that will be available in 2020, 2021 and 2022 intake years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29926/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1217 and 1262 together.

The number of undergraduate new entrants and total enrolments in health and welfare courses, by subject area, is available in the table below. This data is from the 2020/21 academic year, the latest available.

I requested that my officials engage with the higher education sector on the creation of additional places in key areas as identified by our skills architecture. These engagements are at an advanced stage, and we hope to create places in areas of acute skills including healthcare. However it is important to create these places in a sustainable way, cognisant of the expanded facilities, lecturing expertise and clinical and other placements needed, and to do so in areas that open up continuing career opportunities for learners.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of a 10% increase in all medical or health related undergraduate courses for Irish/European Union students in tabular form; the number of places that this would create; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29087/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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1228. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing undergraduate medicine places by 10% based on the full economic costing; the number of places that this would create for medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29304/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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1236. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing undergraduate medical science paramedicine places by 10%, based on the full economic costing; the number of places that this would create; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29316/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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1237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing undergraduate medical science clinical nutrition places by 10%, based on the full economic costing; the number of places that this would create; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29317/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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1238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing undergraduate medical science social workplaces by 10%, based on the full economic costing; the number of places that this would create; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29318/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1218, 1228 and 1236 to 1238, inclusive, together.

The costs incurred by a Higher Education Institution in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. It is therefore not possible to definitively calculate the costs sought.

Full Economic Costing (FEC) data is produced by the university sector. It is an activity based costing model that aims to capture the full economic costs of teaching, research and other activities. It is important to note that Full Economic Costing (FEC) considers cost per FTE student per Subject Price Group within current levels of delivery. While the data provided can be useful indication of potential costs for providers it should not be considered as the definitive costs that would be associated with any increased provision.

Notwithstanding the above, to provide an indication of the potential costs associated with increased places the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has provided the below estimates based on current funding levels:

- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), the estimated cost of a 10% increase in full-time undergraduate medical science social work students is c.€340,000 - €360,000. This includes all full-time Level 8 Honours Degree programmes where Social Work (or equivalent) is included in the title of the programmes. A 10% increase in enrolments would create c.34 additional social work student places.

- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), the estimated cost of a 10% increase in full-time undergraduate medical science clinical nutrition is c.€1,300,000 - €1,360,000. This includes all full-time degree programmes where nutrition and dietetics are included in the title of the programmes. A 10% increase in enrolments would create c.128 additional nutrition and dietetic student places.

- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), the estimated cost of a 10% increase in full-time undergraduate medical science paramedicine is c.€280,000 - €300,000. This includes all full-time undergraduate programmes where paramedic is included in the title of the programmes. A 10% increase in enrolments would create c.36 additional student places

- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students) and including graduate entry, the estimated cost of a 10% increase in medical students is c.€9,700,000 - €10,400,000. A 10% increase would create c.347 additional undergraduate medicine student places

- Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), the estimated cost of a 10% increase in all medical or health related undergraduate courses is c.€28,000,000 - €33,700,000. This includes all full-time undergraduate enrolments for all Health and Welfare programmes. A 10% increase in enrolments would create an additional c.2,800 undergraduate student places.

Please note the above estimates excludes any additional costings which may be met by other agencies or departments.