Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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713. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a course (details supplied) has been considered for MTU Tralee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50250/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to this year there were three established Pharmacy programmes in the country at University College Cork, RCSI and Trinity College Dublin. Two new Pharmacy programmes began in September 2025 in the University of Galway and the Atlantic Technological University. A further Pharmacy programme will commence in South East Technological University in 2026.

These new programmes were established under an Expression of Interest process, run by the HEA, to identify options to expand higher education provision in a number of priority skills areas, including pharmacy. Proposals were put forward by a range of higher education institutions under this process. On 18th October 2024 it was announced that three new Pharmacy programmes would be progressed. These programmes were chosen based on criteria including regional skills need, deliverability and costs.

There will be future opportunities for MTU to propose new programmes in areas of acute skills shortage in healthcare disciplines. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Government and the HEA to expand provision in critical skills areas.