Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the provision of health and social care places, and veterinary places to address the crisis in vacancies seen across these sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51728/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to ensuring that we develop an appropriate pipeline of qualified healthcare workers and vets within Ireland. This must of course be within the overall context of strategic workforce plans for the sectors concerned, the development of which are led by the relevant Departments.

Health and social care, and veterinary programmes, are by their nature complex in delivery. In particular, securing appropriate long-term placements and placement supports is a key element in unlocking additional provision. It is also crucial that any increases in places are introduced in a sustainable way, so that higher education institutions can build appropriate staffing capacity.

Working collaboratively with the Department of Health and the higher education sector, we have already made good progress in putting in place a multi-annual plan to deliver more medical places.

My Department is continuing to work closely with officials in the Department of Health on other emerging workforce requirements, and the placement issues. A workshop on placement issues will take place in the coming weeks, and will involve the HSE and higher education providers.

Officials from my Department have also been engaging extensively with the Higher Education Authority and the higher education sector to identify where additional places can and should be provided in the higher education system. The Higher Education Authority are currently developing a request for Expressions of Interest to issue to the sector targeted specifically at healthcare and veterinary provision.