Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1069. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of graduates in speech and language therapy from Irish higher education institutions in each of the years 2020 to 2024; the projected number in each of the years 2025 to 2029; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17245/25]

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1070. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of graduates in occupational therapy from Irish higher education institutions in each of the years 2020 to 2024; the projected number in each of the years 2025 to 2029; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17246/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1069 and 1070 together.

The graduate data requested by the deputy for the years 2020-2023 is in the attached table. The data is from the Student Records System database of the Higher Education Authority. Student numbers are rounded to the nearest five for data protection purposes. The graduate data for 2024 is not yet available from the HEA. My Department does not currently produce specific projections regarding third level enrolments by discipline or profession.

This government is prioritising workforce planning across health and disability services, including in Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy disciplines.

My officials and I are working closely with other Departments to address workforce needs by expanding training places in areas of acute skills shortages, ensuring a strong pipeline of qualified graduates for our health and social care workforce. I recently met with my cabinet colleagues, including the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, to discuss this issue. We are aligned in our commitment to expanding training places in therapy disciplines.

Last July, my Department and the Department of Health prepared a joint memo for Government, committing both Departments to prioritising funding for the expansion of key healthcare disciplines, including therapy professions. As a next step, my officials have requested that the HEA explore increasing places across existing therapy courses. If needed, this will be followed by an assessment of new course provision.

Significant progress has already been made, with nearly 1,000 additional places created in health and social care programmes at Irish universities in recent years. In September 2024, expansions included:

• 40 additional Occupational Therapy places (20 at the University of Limerick and 20 at the University of Galway).
• 15 additional Speech and Language Therapy places at the University of Galway.

As part of this initiative in 2023, 80 places in Allied Health Professions (AHP) at Ulster University were funded for Republic of Ireland students, co-financed by DFHERIS and the Department of Health. In 2024, this increased to 83 AHP places, again co-funded by DoH and DFHERIS.

This included:

• 28 Occupational Therapy places in 2023, with a further 27 in 2024.
• 10 Speech and Language Therapy places in 2023, with an additional 8 in 2024.

It is important to note that expanding these programmes is complex and requires strong collaboration between the health and education sectors. Sustainable clinical placements and practice tutors are essential to increasing student capacity and ensuring a steady supply of graduates. I remain committed to working with government colleagues to strengthen workforce planning in healthcare and disability services through the expansion of these vital programmes.