Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
127. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if it is intended to ensure a fair regional spread of new courses in pharmacy and veterinary medicine, in view of the Government’s commitments to balanced regional development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25489/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the HEA ran an Expression of Interest process to identify options to build capacity in Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, as well as Medicine, Nursing and Dentistry. I have received the report from the HEA on this process, and am currently reviewing it in conjunction with my Cabinet colleagues the Minister for Health and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Two of the key criteria set out in the Expression of Interest form requested the institutions responding to give a rationale for the ‘location and regional relevance’ and ‘relevance to institutional, regional and national strategy’, and the resultant data has been collated in the HEA's report.
As this process is still ongoing, it is not possible to say at this stage how many places might be created, or what institutions might be involved.
My Department together with the Department of Health, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will continue to engage closely on this matter to consider these options, having regard to workforce plans and projected demand for graduates.
