Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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272. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to consider the suggestions made in correspondence (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68351/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the commitment and dedication shown by the many volunteers and Emergency Medical Technicians who serve communities across the country.

The pre-hospital emergency care sector continues to evolve in scale and complexity, and education pathways are adapting in line with developments in the sector. The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the competent regulatory authority responsible for setting standards of education and practice. PHECC approves course content, assesses the suitability of programmes delivered by education providers, and determines the theoretical and practical standards required for qualifications in pre-hospital emergency care. While PHECC sets these standards, it is important to note that it does not deliver training directly and it is open to any education provider to develop programmes and apply to PHECC for approval to deliver them.

PHECC has advised my Department that it has recently been in discussion with two education providers regarding the potential development of a paramedic apprenticeship model, and my officials have been engaging in this process. PHECC has indicated that any such programme, if approved, would not be structured as part-time provision. Decisions on course formats, including whether part-time or distance-learning models are appropriate, must be taken in line with regulatory requirements and with patient safety as the foremost consideration. By legislation HEIs are autonomous bodies and my Department does not instruct these institutions to deliver particular programmes or to operate in a particular format; however, providers are free to bring forward proposals for alternative modes of delivery, subject to regulatory approval by PHECC.

Data from the Higher Education Authority shows that enrolments in paramedic education have increased in recent years. First-year enrolments in Paramedic Studies at University College Cork have increased from 150 in 2022 to 240 in 2024, while enrolments at the University of Limerick have grown from 40 in 2022 to 55 in 2024.

More broadly, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science continues to work to expand and diversify higher education provision across the health and social care system.

The Government is committed to ensuring that every learner has a viable and accessible pathway to fulfilling their potential. While regulatory and patient-safety considerations must guide qualification pathways in pre-hospital emergency care, my Department will continue to work with the Department of Health, relevant regulatory bodies, the Higher Education Authority and education providers to support the ongoing development of flexible, high-quality training routes that meet learner needs and contribute to a strong, well-prepared emergency care workforce.