Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2024 has introduced a significant number of supports for students to assist with the cost of education. These include post graduate student grants, and additional funding for the student assistance fund (SAF) and increased funding for medical places. As the Deputy is aware, on 12th July 2022 the Minister for Health and I 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 will began with an additional 60 EU students in September 2022, climbing to 120 in September 2023, and up to 200 by 2026. This marks a significant expansion in the number of places available to students applying through the CAO system. It increases the opportunities for students to progress to study medicine in Ireland and to help us build our talent pipeline.In additional to this, an extra 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.Overall Budget 2023 and Budget 2024 saw a significant increase in the amount the State pays for medicine places. 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, which is an increase on the academic year 2021/22, when the state contribution was €11,950.The establishment of mechanisms allowing for consistent engagement in relation to workforce planning needs for the public sector has been one of my priorities and I will continue to engage with my colleague, Minister Donnelly on the needs of the health sector for graduates in these key areas.