Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the creation of terms of reference for the review of personal assistance services funded from the fund for students with disabilities across tertiary education settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26451/24]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, my officials are finishing the terms of reference for the review of Personal Assistance services across tertiary education. Prior to this finalisation, my officials are meeting with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding a similar review being carried out in relation to HSE-funded personal assistance services.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional third level places coming on stream for the start of the 2024-2025 academic year pertinent to the staffing needs of children’s disability network teams, specifically in occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, psychology and social work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27053/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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462 permanent additional places in healthcare disciplines were introduced in September 2023 in Irish higher education institutions. In addition, last September saw an innovative cross border collaboration with the Government funding of 80 additional health and social care places in Ulster University.

There is ongoing engagement with my Department and the Department of Health, HSE and the Higher Education Sector to progress additional places in health and social care programmes for the upcoming academic year. Engagements are also underway to extend the cross-border arrangements.

Recently I launched the Social Work Apprenticeship and Social Work Tertiary Degree with the National Tertiary Office. Tusla was a critical partner in the development of this offering. My Department is exploring new ways for students to enter higher education in areas of acute skills needs. I look forward to examining the possibilities in replicating this across other disciplines in the future.

Having the necessary clinical placements is a critical enabler of expansion. My officials are working with the HSCP office in the Department of Health to ensure their is a sustainable supply of clinical placements and appropriate HSE staff in place.

I am committed to working with the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth, and the Minister for Education to progress this work.