Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table below. The data was sourced from the HEA Student Records System. The table shows the proportion of enrolments in the Royal College of Surgeons by their domicile group for the most recent five years available.

There has been substantial additionality in healthcare and medicine programmes for Irish and EU students. Along with Minister Donnelly, in July 2022, I announced an agreement to increase the number of annual intake places in medicine available for Irish and EU students by 200 per annum. This increase is being phased in and 120 of the 200 places were available for Irish and EU students from September 2023.

It must be understood that the funding model for medical education in this country has relied on the cross-subsidisation of places for Irish and EU students by the fees paid by non-EU students.

The agreement to increase the level of funding for existing places, to move them to a more sustainable basis was key to unlocking this expansion in Irish and EU places.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Higher Education Authority has conducted an expression of interest process for Higher Education Institutions interested in building capacity in Medicine, along with Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Veterinary. I am working closely with the Minister for Health to facilitate the expansion of medical and healthcare education places for Irish and EU students.

RCSI Enrolments: