Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 642 and 643 together.

Expanding the number of places available on Health and Social Care Profession (HSCP) programmes is a priority for my Department. In July 2023, Minister Donnelly and I announced over 400 additional permanent places across HSCP related programmes from September 2023. This included five places on the Radiation Therapy programme in Trinity College Dublin.

There are some issues, which are in the control of the health sector which need to be considered in any proposal to expand places on programmes like Radiation Therapy. These relate to guarantees of clinical placements and qualified practice tutors for students on placements. This requires the Department of Health and the HSE to ensure there are suitable placements and personnel available.

There has been extensive engagement between my Department and the Department of Health, and both Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork, regarding the expansion of places on radiation therapy programmes. I met with representatives from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Cork (UCC) Radiation Therapy programmes, as well as Radiation Therapy Professionals, on 25th October 2023. Both my own officials and officials in the Department of Health have also had further meetings with TCD and UCC on the potential expansion of these programmes.

I understand that some funding has been allocated by the Department of Health to support the development of sustainable practice education broadly for the Health and Social Care Professions in 2024. The National Health and Social Care Professions Office in the HSE is coordinating this process and leading on a number of programmes to support practice education for Health and Social Care Professions which will include identifying essential requirements.