Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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286. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 1 December 2022, if he will instruct the Higher Education Authority to include a criterion of regional balance as part of the expression of interest for delivering increased numbers in veterinary medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61468/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Higher Education Authority recently sought 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 Expressions of Interest were 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 submissions to the HEA was Friday, 18th November 2022.

Two of the key criteria set out in the Expression of Interest form request the institutions responding to give a rationale for the ‘location and regional relevance’ and ‘relevance to institutional, regional and national strategy’ in their responses to the EOI, and the resultant data will be collated, and the spread of regional demand assessed, in due course. 

The HEA is currently reviewing applications with a view to moving to the second stage of the assessment process, which will involve review by an expert panel.  I understand that the HEA has been in contact with institutions to advise them of the next steps. As the process is ongoing the HEA is not releasing further details at this point in time.