James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expand the number of third level places related to therapies in the disability sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37651/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Addressing shortages in critical health and social care professions, particularly in the disability sector, is a top priority for the government.

In April 2025, in response to a request from the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Disability, I requested my officials to established an interdepartmental working group to address additional places and associated placements for the expansion of disability therapy graduates. This group is chaired by my Department and includes senior representatives from the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Children, Equality and Disability, the Higher Education Authority, and the Department of Education and Youth.

On my behalf the HEA conducted an Expression of Interest process to identify opportunities to expand numbers across existing courses in nine key health and social care professions, which could commence immediately from September 2025. The process ran in April and received 24 submissions across all nine areas.

Following a review of the results, I joined with my Ministerial colleagues to seek Government approval for this expansion. We secured approval for up to 320 new student places annually in 2025, with a further 141 in subsequent year, with supports to expand clinical placements for these additional students. These places are in professions vital to disability and health services, including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and dietetics. The HEA has formally communicated to the providers to activate this expansion.

It has to be recognised that this was a first immediate step to activate places in these key professions. Meeting our collective government commitments in disability and education will require further significant growth and delivery of new courses and clinical supports for therapies. Work on the next phase is already underway. My officials are engaging closely with the HEA, the Higher Education sector and across government. We are also exploring new pathways, including postgraduate programmes, tertiary education models, and apprenticeships, to grow a sustainable pipeline of healthcare and therapy professionals. We welcome the continued support of government, our agencies, providers and regulatory bodies in supporting this ambitious expansion plan.

I remain committed to working across Government to meet workforce needs and ensure the sustainable growth of these essential programmes. I look forward to providing a further update to my cabinet colleagues on this continued expansion.