Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM). Graduate entry courses require applicants to hold a level 8 qualification prior to entry and completion of a graduate entry medicine degree confers a further level 8 qualification.

The Student Grant Scheme provides funding support for eligible first time undergraduate students. Students pursuing a second level 8 degree course, including graduate entry programmes, are not eligible for a grant as they do not meet the progression criteria of the Scheme.

As the Deputy may know, the cost of Graduate Entry Medicine is something my Department has been examining over a number of years and we have taken a number of steps to respond to this.

For example, the State subsidy to Higher Education Institutions towards the cost of provision for EU student places has increased.

In the academic year 2021/22 the state contribution was €11,950 per student with the balance of fees payable by the student.

Budget 2023 and Budget 2024 saw a significant increase in the amount the State pays for medicine places, including graduate entry. The State contribution towards graduate entry places will be increased in phases so that by 2026 all graduate entry places will be funded by the state at €14,500.

In addition, we introduced a new system where bursaries that are provided to the most socio-economically disadvantaged students under the National Access Plan can retain those bursaries throughout their GEM programme.

We have also worked 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. The agreement included Graduate Entry Medicine additional places.

To date, an additional 10 graduate entry places, 5 in 2022 and another 5 in 2023 have been created, with further additional places planned up to 2026. This marks a significant expansion in the number of places available to students.

My officials are working with the Department of Health on the funding of GEM, and it is my priority to continue to try and make improvements for all students.