Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1067. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if student numbers for radiation therapy courses at third level have increased in 2023 in comparison to numbers in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40072/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1068. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what engagement has taken place to date between his Department and higher education institutions in the expansion of existing radiation therapy programmes from 2023; what progress, if any, has been made to date between his Department and the Department of Health in increasing corresponding student placements in the health sector for these additional radiation therapy students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40073/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1069. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the working group, established by his Department in 2022, to identify and address barriers to expansion in the health and social care professions, including radiation therapy; what progress has been made to date in particular with regard to radiation therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40074/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1067, 1068 and 1069 together.

Officials from my Department have been engaging regularly with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to ascertain possible expansion on existing programmes from 2023, including in the health and social care professions.

The Department of Health have recently given a written commitment to this Department as to the availability of the corresponding clinical placements required to provide these places and this has been communicated to the HEIs.

As a result of engagements between my Department and the HEIs, I was very pleased to announce in July that over 400 permanent additional places would be made available across the health and social care professions from September 2023, of which 5 additional places are in Radiation Therapy.

Last year my Department established a working group to identify and address barriers to expansion in the health and social care professions, including radiation therapy. This working group has included representatives from the Department of Health, the HSE, CORU, the higher education sector as well as my Department. This group looked at at both incremental expansion from September 2023, and enabling more substantial expansion in the medium term. I look forward to working with the Deputy on this going forward.

The HSE is developing a Framework for Practice Placement Education. I understand that the Department of Health have also recently appointed a HSCP Officer to lead on enabling expansion in health and social care professions. It should be noted that 2022/2023 data has not been released yet by the HEA for comparison purposes year on year.