Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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500. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 630 of 24 October 2023, the status of the proposed new veterinary school for expanded veterinary education in Ireland; the status of the negotiations between the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine and his Department concerning this new school; the possibility of it being located at the University of Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27941/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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501. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of funding for and the quantity of additional veterinary education places that will be available in the proposed new veterinary school for expanded veterinary education in Ireland at the University of Limerick; if these additional veterinary education places will be listed and available for students to apply for on the CAO system for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27942/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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502. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a briefing document (details supplied) for expanded veterinary education in Ireland, which highlights the positives of granting the contract to the University of Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27943/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 500, 501 and 502 together.

The Government recognises the need for expansion in the provision of Veterinary Medicine programmes.

These programmes are complex to deliver and require appropriate equipment, laboratory facilities, and appropriately qualifies teaching staff, to meet the requirements of the regulator.

As you are aware, the HEA Expression of Interest process brought to Government in June last year identified a number of options to expand third level places. The options identified through the HEA's process have the potential to transform the numbers of students who can take up places in these key areas. This would be an expansion at a scale rarely seen and is a significant investment of public funding in our Higher Education Institutions. There are substantial capital costs associated with the development of many of the proposals and it is important that the scale of the costs is fully understood and planned for. Consideration is ongoing as to how these capital costs could be met, and I am working closely with my colleague Minister McConologue on this.

At the point when we have established the available level of funding, I will ask the HEA to re-engage with the higher education sector on the potential options, and we will progress to a process considering a range of factors including alignment with skills need, deliverability, regional considerations and value for money.

I want to assure you that increasing places in veterinary medicine is of key importance and a shared priority for Minister McConalogue and for me, and our Departments are continuing to work closely on this matter.