Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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813. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the Higher Education Authority call for expressions of interest in creating more places for student vets and veterinary nurses; the target number of additional places in both veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing; the way in which this will be funded; the estimated timeframe for the first additional places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54505/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is currently seeking expressions of interest from higher education institutions interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary. This process has been designed to respond swiftly to national skills needs, and EOIs are sought from institutions with capability to expand existing courses or create new courses in these areas from academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26. The closing date for submitting EOIs to the HEA is Friday 18th November at 4pm.

My Department does not place a quota on the number of places available on Veterinary Programmes in HEIs. The introduction of additional places will also be informed by engagement from the workforce planning areas within the Department of Agriculture and the Veterinary Council of Ireland, and relevant stakeholders in the sector.

The provision of Higher Education funding on an annual basis is part of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy for Government. In this regard funding to support building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing and Veterinary will be matters for consideration as part of the annual Estimates processes over the coming years.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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814. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of all Higher Education Authority calls for expressions of interest in delivering additional places in third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54506/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On 28th June 2022, I announced the creation of over one thousand college places across a range of disciplines, including welfare, nursing, ICT, architecture and construction, engineering and environment. These places were made available from September 2022. The places were created following extensive engagements between my Department, the HEA and the higher education sector. The places are in areas of key skills needs, as identified by the national skills architecture, and will be permanent additions in the system. A significant effort was made to increase the capacity of in demand courses which will address areas of skills shortages. 

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is currently seeking expressions of interest from higher education institutions interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary. This process has been designed to respond swiftly to national skills needs, and EOIs are sought from institutions with capability to expand existing courses or create new courses in these areas from academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26. The closing date for submitting EOIs to the HEA is Friday 18th November 2022.