Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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551. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the University of Limerick's proposed new veterinary school (details supplied); if he has received a report from the HEA expert panel concerning the relative capacities of UL for the provision of extra veterinary training places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15226/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Higher Education Authority is close to concluding a process to identify where additional capacity could be built in the higher education sector in a number of key disciplines including veterinary. Through the process, the HEA is examining opportunities for new programme provision as well as the expansion of current programmes, and will determine a final list of options.

The HEA appointed an Expert Advisory Panel to review new programme proposals. The panel included representatives of the Veterinary Council of Ireland, the statutory body responsible for the regulation of veterinary medicine in Ireland, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The Deputy will understand that, before making any determinations regarding additional places on existing or new programmes, my Department must first consider potential options having regard to workforce plans and projected demand for graduates from relevant line Departments. As such, on receiving recommendations from the HEA, I will engage with my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to his Department's assessment of the scale of the demand for veterinary graduates.

As this process is independent, and I am yet to receive recommendations from it, the Deputy will understand that I am not in a position at this stage to comment on any particular higher education institution's submission.

I look forward to receiving the final report of options from the HEA for my Department to review in the coming days.