Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is one of my key priorities that we deliver graduates with the skills necessary to support our healthcare system and support the strategic workforce planning by the health sector, and to ensure a supply of qualified vets to meet the demands of Ireland's agri-food sector. My officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture on determining the longer term skills needs of the healthcare and veterinary services, and the role which the further and higher education sector can play in meeting those skills needs.

There is no quota placed on dental or veterinary courses by my Department, and therefore the places offered are a matter for the higher education institutions, in line with their autonomy. However due to the high level of practical work involved there can be material constraints on the number of students that can be accepted onto dentistry and veterinary courses.

As you are aware, a number of institutions put forward proposals following the recent HEA Expression of Interest process outlining options for the expansion of places in healthcare, including dentistry, as well as veterinary medicine provision. A number of the proposals could be regionally impactful, increasing the supply of graduates in dentistry and veterinary.

There is a substantial capital cost associated with the provision of any expansion or new school. It is important that the scale of the costs is fully understood and planned for and the options identified have the potential to transform the numbers of students who can take up places in these programmes. This would represent a significant investment of public funding in our higher education institutions.

My Department is engaging with other relevant Departments about the capital costs for the provision of any new school and I am continuing to work with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the next steps.