Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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449. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the number of undergraduate new entrants in pharmacy by 25%, broken down by the number of additional new entrants a 25% increase would achieve and the total number of new entrants following a 25% increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6708/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The costs incurred by Higher Education Institutions in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a number of factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant Higher Education Institution. It is therefore not possible to definitively calculate the costs sought.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science does not place a cap on the number of Pharmacy places. Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs and determinations around course provision.

The Higher Education Authority has recently completed the first stage of an expression of interest (EOI) process for Higher Education Institutions interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary. This EOI was the first stage of a two-part selection process. EOIs were asked to focus on institutional readiness, giving due attention to current disciplinary alignment, existing institutional expertise and infrastructure, or potential to develop same, as well as planned future investment.

The second stage of the EOI process has now commenced with the recent announcement by the Higher Education Authority of the appointment of an Expert Advisory Panel to review the opportunities for new programmes covered by the process. The panel is comprised of representatives from Government Departments and regulatory and professional bodies that have direct professional experience and/or academic expertise in the relevant disciplines, or knowledge of the higher education system at a senior level.

The Higher Education Authority will consider opportunities for new programme provision alongside options for current programme expansion to determine a final list of options to present to me in quarter one 2023. This may require capital funding.