Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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1380. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider a conversion programme for graduates who have completed an intellectual disability nursing programme and wish to transfer to general nursing. [3074/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services, including nursing.

There has been a significant increase in the number of places available in Nursing programmes in recent years. Officials in my department continue to engage with the Higher Education Authority and representatives from the higher education sector on the provision of additional places in the tertiary education sector, with a focus on areas such as healthcare, where there is a need for more skilled graduates.

All avenues for widening the scope of entry pathways to healthcare disciplines, including nursing, are being explored by my Department with regard to workforce planning in healthcare professions. These include Tertiary Degrees, Apprenticeship and Graduate Entry programmes.

My Department will continue to work with the Department of Health, the HEA and the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies to improve the availability of health professionals and reform their training to support integrated care across the entire health service.