Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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275. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional third level places will be provided for all therapy courses, in view of the difficulties in recruiting therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63126/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My officials have met with the relevant departments in relation to the requirements of therapy teams. A joined up approach with the Departments of Health, Education and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is necessary to determine system level demand in the therapy disciplines. The provision of healthcare education in the therapy areas is complex and involves many different parts of the system. The availability of appropriate placements and placement supports is a key enabler of this expansion, and engagement with the relevant departments on these issues is ongoing.

Officials from the Department were also represented on the Interdepartmental Working Group which was tasked with developing an Action Plan for Disability Services. The department will work with the HSE and the Department of Health and the Department of Children (DCEDIY) to progress actions arising out of this plan.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) recently sought expressions of interest from higher education institutions interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary from academic year 2024-25 or 2025-26. The HEA have advised higher education institutions that it intends on using a similar Expression of Interest process in early 2023 to build capacity in the therapy disciplines.