Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024
122. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what progress has been made in increase radiation therapy at third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2100/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July, 2023, Minister Donnelly and I announced over 400 additional permanent places across Health and Social Care Profession programmes from September 2023. This included five places on the Radiation Therapy programme in Trinity College Dublin
I met with Deputy Burke and representatives from the Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork Radiation Therapy programme as well as Radiation Therapy Professionals on 25th October 2023.
The proposal received from Trinity College Dublin at that meeting has been passed to the Department of Health who are reviewing it. The Department of Health have previously informed DFHERIS that the infrastructure the HSE are putting in place in the context of the National Service Plan 2023 will support radiation therapy along with other disciplines and there is an allocation for additional tutor posts for radiation therapy which will support student placement.
The Chief HSCP officer is in regular communication with the national HSCP lead and understands that practice tutor posts for radiation therapists have been submitted for funding as part of an overall process to improve access to clinical placements for all HSCPs.
