Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1906. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the level 6 and level 7 bridging programmes designed for those seeking advanced entry to stage 2 or stage 3 of the B.Ed Montessori Education, last offered in 2021, will be reintroduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11293/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The programmes referred to by the Deputy were previously offered by St. Nicholas Montessori College Ireland, a private provider of education.

The Teaching Council removed registration of the College’s Level 8 BA Honours Montessori Education programme for the purposes of professional recognition with effect from 31st December 2023. My Department had no role in this decision.

The College ceased offering all of its higher education provision with effect from September 2024.

Learners interested in undertaking a programme in Montessori Education or Early Years Education and Care are advised to consult the Qualifications Advisory Board’s (QAB) list of approved programmes for working in the early years sector. This list is available at: www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=.

Munster Technological University (MTU) offers a Montessori specific Early Years degree programme, which is approved by the QAB. Further details can be found at: www.mtu.ie/courses/mt970/.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1907. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of graduates from undergraduate- and graduate-medicine programmes from all higher education institutions in the State for each of the years 2020 to 2024; the projected number for each of the years 2025 to 2029; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11306/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Data provided by the HEA regarding graduate figures for direct-entry and graduate-entry to medicine by institution for the last five academic years available is provided in the attached table.

In relation to anticipated graduate numbers for future years, my Department does not currently produce specific projections regarding third level enrolments. Further information regarding projections for higher education enrolment is available here: .

As you are likely aware, significant progress has been made in terms of securing additionality in medicine places and other key healthcare disciplines in recent years. In 2020 and 2021, in response to particular circumstances relating to the pandemic, temporary once-off places were created. In July 2022, a landmark agreement was reached between the medical schools, the Department and the Department of Health to increase the number of annual medicine places available for Irish and EU students by 200 by 2026. This increase is being phased in, with 160 of the 200 places having been made available for Irish and EU students from last September.

This represents a substantial increase in the existing infrastructure. An agreement was also reached in February with Queen's University Belfast for the funding of 25 additional medical places there from September 2024. These places are being co-funded by my Department and the Department of Health.

Ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified professionals in medicine is a key priority for me and my Department. I want to build on the progress made in the past few years in expanding the number of places for students and I will continue to work closely with the Minister for Health in order to provide further additionality in medicine and other key healthcare disciplines.