Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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578. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of doubling the number of places on the college therapy programmes for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. [45869/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous under the relevant legislation regarding their day to day management and academic affairs. This Department does not put a cap on the number of places available in particular courses by HEIs.

The costs incurred by a HEI in increasing student places on a particular course or establishing an additional course can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant HEI.

Where additionality is required on courses or a new course is required, specific engagement with the sector and external stakeholders is very often required. This process allows for a deeper consideration of wider issues such as capacity, staffing, other supports, availability of placements, capital investment in buildings and equipment etc. It is therefore, not possible to definitively calculate the costs sought in the absence of a specific engagement with the sector.

It should be noted that in recent years there has been a substantial expansion of therapy and key healthcare discipline provision in Irish HEIs. In July, Government approved the prioritisation of funding to support the expansion of training places in priority therapy disciplines.

Additionality of approximately 35% is expected in therapy disciplines over next two academic years. Additional places commencing in September 2024 include expanded intakes on Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Podiatric Medicine programmes in University of Galway, Physiotherapy in RCSI and the introduction of an undergraduate Occupational Therapy programme in University of Limerick.

The delivery of health and social programmes is complex and requires multiple parts of the health and education systems working together. The availability of clinical placements for students is a key enabler to expanding provision of all health and social care disciplines.

Extensive engagement is ongoing between officials in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and officials in the Department of Health, as well as the HSE and higher education sector. Work is underway on the oversight and infrastructure for clinical placements to enable further expansion.