Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1028. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline and strategy for delivering the substantial increase in healthcare training (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63450/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department remains committed to delivering a substantial increase in healthcare training places in third level colleges. However, this needs to be matched by clinical placements. This is in the control of the Department of Health. Healthcare 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. As you will be aware, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has recently sought expressions of interest (EOIs) from higher education institutions interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary from academic year 2024/25 or 2025/26.

The closing date for EOIs was the 18th November. This process has been designed to respond swiftly to national skills needs, through either new programmes or expanding existing courses in these areas. The HEA has informed my department that 39 expressions of interest have been received. Of these, 20 institutions have proposed to deliver new courses, and 19 institutions are proposing to expand on existing courses in the selected disciplines. Overall, responses represent a rapid, nationwide engagement with the call.

My Department will continue to engage regularly with the Department of Health, the HSE, the Higher Education Authority and the higher education sector to identify where additional places can and should be provided in the higher education system.