Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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260. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected number of additional training places planned between 2026 and 2027 and 2027 and 2028 for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21731/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As set out in the Programme for Government, my Department in collaboration with the Higher Education Authority and higher education sector are working to support the Department of Health, the HSE, Department of Disability, Children and Quality and Department of Education and Youth in addressing their work force planning needs. This is being achieved through the implementation of a coordinated, multi-annual expansion of training places across the therapy professions, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy.

My department has delivered very substantial growth in these disciplines. Between 2023 and 2026, training capacity in our universities and colleges will have increased by approximately 80% in physiotherapy, 62% in occupational therapy and 21% in speech and language therapy. I recently announced that over 1,100 additional annual places have been created across a range of medicine, veterinary, pharmacy, health and social care professions in 2025 and 2026.

In terms of the specific years referenced by the Deputy, precise numbers of further additional places for 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 are not yet finalised. Additional expansion will be determined through a new Expression of Interest process which will issue in the coming weeks. This process which will be led by the HEA will support both the expansion of existing programmes and the development of new programmes.

This next phase will prioritise occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy and related professions in response to clear and persistent workforce shortages, particularly in disability services, Children’s Disability Network Teams and the new National Education Therapy Service.

The assessment of future programmes will be aligned with workforce planning data and regional service needs, and critically, with the availability of clinical placements. This work is being progressed through a cross-Government approach, including oversight by an Inter-Departmental Working Group, which brings together key stakeholders to ensure that decisions on training capacity are informed by service demand and system priorities.

I can assure the Deputy that continued growth in these disciplines is planned and will build on the very significant increases already delivered as part of a sustained effort to strengthen Ireland’s health and disability workforce.