Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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267. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the necessary funding will be provided to the dental school in UCC who have submitted proposed to the Department for the expansion of their training programme, which would involve the development of a new hub in which additional students could be trained and practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21758/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully committed to increasing healthcare training places, including in dentistry, in line with the Programme for Government. In consultation with the Department of Health, dentistry has been identified as a priority area requiring additional graduates to meet growing demand, strengthen oral healthcare services, and support the objectives of both Sláintecare and the Smile agus Sláinte oral health policy.

While higher education institutions are autonomous in their academic and enrolment decisions, my Department works closely with them, the Higher Education Authority, and the Department of Health to support sustainable expansion in priority areas.

In that context, my officials met with University College Cork in February of this year to discuss in detail its proposal to establish a community-based dental outreach centre in North Cork, and to advance this important project. Engagement has continued since that meeting and an update is awaited from UCC.

The proposal, which includes a request for capital investment from the Department of Health would support an increase in undergraduate dental training capacity and provide students with earlier clinical exposure in primary care settings.

The proposal is currently progressing through the necessary capital appraisal processes. The Department of Health has advised UCC to work with the HSE to formalise the project for evaluation. Until this process is complete, it is not possible to confirm funding or timelines. However, I can assure the Deputy that the proposal is being actively progressed with a view to maximising additional places for Irish and EU students.

This initiative complements the new dentistry programme at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, which commenced this year with an additional 20 student places and has capacity to expand by a further 15 places from 2027, subject to approvals.

I remain committed to working with all stakeholders to increase dental training capacity in a sustainable and strategic manner.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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268. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans to introduce a third level course for childcare taught through the medium of Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29028/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The promotion and expansion of Irish language provision at third level is a priority for my Department. Universities however are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act, 1997 and as such, they retain responsibility for academic matters, including the development and introduction of new programmes, such as a third level childcare course taught through the medium of Irish.

That said, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Act 2022 places a statutory obligation on the HEA to support higher education institutions in teaching, promoting and using the Irish language. My Department provides support to higher education institutions through the HEA via core funding and targeted funding streams for Irish-language initiatives.

The HEA’s special provision for the support of the Irish language is an annual allocation of €900,000 aimed at supporting a greater use of the Irish language among students and staff of universities and smaller colleges. The University of Galway will also shortly commence a national research project on Irish language provision in further and higher education, funded by my Department via the HEA. Support for this research forms part of my Department's programme of work to further the objectives of the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services, and will help inform future developments in tertiary level education, including the skills required to meet identified Irish language service needs.

My Department is also working with other Departments to advance these objectives, including through the establishment of a sectoral working group, co-chaired with the Department of Rural and Community and Gaeltacht Development. This group will consider practical ways in which higher and further education, training, apprenticeships, upskilling, retraining and lifelong learning can contribute to meeting Irish language skills needs, including those of the public sector. The HEA will be represented on this group.

In addition, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) is developing a national plan for Irish language provision in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector, as committed to in the 5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language. The national plan is expected to support the delivery of two commitments in First 5: the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families: “Introduce measures to ensure that children in Gaeltacht areas have access to Irish-medium ELC provision” and “Develop mechanisms to provide Irish-language supports to ELC provision where there are high proportions of children who are learning through the medium of Irish”. The plan is also expected to support the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Government to: “Support naíonraí and creches to ensure early education access in Gaeltacht communities and beyond” and “Plan the development of State-led facilities in tandem with the school building programme, including Irish-medium naíonraí”.

Possible actions such as supporting the development of initial professional education programmes (QQI L5-7) in ELC that are conducted through the medium of Irish and supporting the development of elective modules in immersion education (QQI level 7) for those undertaking ELC degrees, will be considered during the process of developing the plan. It is intended that the plan will be published later in the coming months.