Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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2139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of first-year students enrolled in Maynooth University for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59126/25]

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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2140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students which are enrolled in Maynooth University for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59127/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2139 and 2140 together.

The most recent data available from the Higher Education Authority for the academic year 2024/2025 indicates that Maynooth University had a total enrolment of 15,560 students. Of these, 3,695 students were students starting their first year at the university (classified as 'New Entrants'). Both these figures show the increasing upward trend in numbers enrolling in programmes in the college.

To provide context, in 2019, the total number of enrolled students stood at 12,610, with 3,225 new entrants registered. This represents a growth of approximately 23% in overall student numbers and a 14% increase in first-year new entrant enrolments over the five-year period.

I recently visited Maynooth University on 24th October this year to officially launch its new School of Nursing. This marks the first new nursing programme to be established in Ireland in nearly two decades. The programme will offer 30 places in its inaugural year, with plans to expand to 100 places annually.

I warmly welcome this expansion and development and commend the university for its commitment to expanding educational opportunities. I look forward to seeing Maynooth continue to thrive as a centre of academic excellence, attracting talented students, educators, and researchers to the region.

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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2141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students from DCU enrolled in Lyons Farm in Celbridge for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59128/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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UCD Lyons Farm is a teaching and research facility operated by University College Dublin under the College of Health and Agricultural Sciences. It supports the work of the School of Agriculture and Food Science and the School of Veterinary Medicine. As such, it does not maintain separate enrolment figures, and students are enrolled through UCD rather than directly to Lyons Farm. UCD currently offers approximately 85 places per year in Veterinary Medicine, and 250 places per year in Agricultural Science, through the CAO.

While students from other institutions, including Dublin City University (DCU), may engage with Lyons Farm through collaborative research or professional development initiatives, there is no formal enrolment of DCU students at the facility.

I acknowledge the important role Lyons Farm in Celbridge plays in our national research and education infrastructure. It is my understanding that it supports over €40 million in active research grants and provides essential facilities for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, including Master's and Doctoral programmes. The farm is a valuable resource for students, operating mixed agricultural enterprises, beef, dairy, crops, equine, sheep, and pigs, supporting both academic and industry-focused research.

Currently, UCD is home to Ireland’s only veterinary school, with a limited number of places available each year. Recognising the growing demand for veterinary education and the need to reduce our reliance on overseas institutions, in September this year I have approved the Veterinary Places Activation Programme (VPAP). This initiative will establish two new veterinary schools at South East Technological University (SETU) and Atlantic Technological University (ATU), adding 80 new student places annually from 2026.

These new schools will complement the existing provision and significantly expand our national capacity to train veterinary professionals, supporting both the agri-food sector and public health systems.