Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1044. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to increasing the number of places in third level institutions for medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1330/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD and I jointly announced an agreement with the Irish medical schools to increase the number of places available for EU students by 200 over the next five years. The agreement reached with the medical schools began with an additional 60 EU students in September 2022, climbing to 120 in September 2023, and up to 200 by 2026. 

My Department remains committed to delivering substantial further increases in healthcare training places in third level colleges. 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. 

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 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.