Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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39. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made to date in increasing the number of places for Irish students in dentistry colleges in Cork and Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55462/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the new Dentistry programme in Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) commenced intake of 20 students in September this year. This new Bachelor of Dental Surgery will train students in a community-based model of dental education, significantly increasing the number of dentistry training places available nationally and expanding access to dentistry training. An additional eight places are due to commence this course next September, and seven the following September bringing the total annual EU intake in this course to 35 places. This will represent a 60% increase on dental training places in Ireland compared to 2024.

There are now three undergraduate programmes for Dentistry, including the existing programmes in Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork. This is as a result of the initial HEA Expression of Interest process.

My Department does not place a quota on dentistry programmes, and therefore the number of places offered is a matter for the higher education institutions, in line with their autonomy. However, I do acknowledge that due to a number of factors including the high cost of specialised equipment and facilities required for dentistry training, there can be material constraints on the number of students that can be accepted onto dentistry courses.

It is important that any increases in training provision is achieved in a sustainable way with an evidence based understanding of the future needs of the health system and in collaboration with the Dental Council. My officials have been engaging with officials in the Oral Health unit of the Department of Health regarding Dentistry training provision in both Dublin and Cork. We are continuing to engage with the higher education sector, the HEA and colleagues in Department of Health to ensure sustainable increases in student places while maintaining high quality training in Dentistry.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is considering extending the Human Capital Initiative Programme; if not, if replacement programmes are being developed in lieu of an extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55835/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Human Capital Initiative (HCI) represents a ring-fenced €300 million investment from the National Training Fund into our higher education sector over the period 2020 to 2024. The initiative has been highly successful in increasing capacity in areas of key skills need and in enhancing innovation and agility within higher education institutions.

While the HCI programme has now concluded and is not being extended, the Department and the Higher Education Authority are working with the sector to ensure that key innovations developed under HCI Pillar 3 are embedded within participating institutions.

Although HCI has formally ended, HCI Pillar 3 Micro-Credential Learner Fee Subsidy, introduced in February 2024, continues into the current academic year, learners can avail of the subsidy up until 31st October 2025. This provides a 50–80% fee reduction for almost 13,900 places across more than 650 micro-credential courses in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Biopharma, Construction, Cyber Security, Engineering, ICT and Finance.

In addition, Springboard+ 2025, launched in May, is offering almost 8,000 places on 249 courses, including micro-credentials and full-time ICT skills conversion courses. In January, a call was issued to HEIs for proposals for courses to be included in the Springboard+ for the next three years, the call specified that courses subsidised under HCI Pillar 1 and micro-credential courses may be included in proposals.

Furthermore, the Enterprise Focused Higher Education (EFHE) measure provides recurrent funding to HEIs for programmes aligned with identified labour market needs, complementing the objectives of the HCI.

These measures will ensure that our higher education sector can continue to respond to skills needs and respond to emerging industry requirements in an innovative and agile manner.