Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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2101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding supports, bursaries or Government-backed schemes will be introduced to help Irish healthcare professionals train in critical-need areas such as speech and language therapy abroad with a firm commitment to returning to work in Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58058/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am very aware of the need to train more professionals in key health and social care disciplines, particularly in areas like speech and language therapy and other therapies that support our health and disability services.

Earlier this year, at the request of my Department, the HEA ran an Expression of Interest process to identify opportunities to expand student numbers across nine priority health and social care professions. These are courses where additional places could be created in the short term. I secured the funding needed to support 461 new places, including 10 additional places in speech and language therapy. This builds on the expansion in 2024, and overall, places in SLT courses have increased by 21% since 2023.

This is just the first phase. The HEA will launch a further Expression of Interest process later this month, focused on developing new course provision in key areas, including speech and language therapy.

In 2023 and 2024, my Department also funded places in Northern Ireland for students from this jurisdiction in healthcare courses, including SLT. Officials are continuing to engage with counterparts in the North to explore future opportunities in this area.

Financial supports are available to eligible students through SUSI, and bursaries are also open for application. Specific funding for particular disciplines is typically provided by the employer - in this case, the Department of Health and the HSE - based on contractual arrangements following successful completion of the programme. These arrangements are a matter for the prospective employer.

I remain committed to increasing places in these vital areas, not only to ensure our public services have the skilled professionals they need, but also to give more students the opportunity to pursue meaningful careers in healthcare.