Medical Register

Wednesday, 15 October 2025

Questions (343, 344, 345, 346, 348)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

343. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of applicants there were for the PRES exams this year, and for the last five years. [55912/25]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

344. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the capacity numbers each year for the PRES Exam 2 and PRES Exam 3 within the State. [55913/25]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

345. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health who the provider for the PRES exams is, and the cost to the State, for each of the last five years. [55914/25]

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346. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the main reason cited by the Medical Council for applicants who are not able to sit the PRES 2 and PRES 3 exam in the year they apply, and have to wait until the next round of exams come up as the places are limited; if there is a reason why the capacity cannot be increased; and the number of times per year PRES 2 and PRES 3 exams are held. [55915/25]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

348. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health of the doctors who have done the PRES 3 exam in the last five years, the number that are still registered with the Medical Council to date. [55917/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Question Nos 343,344,345,346 and 348 together.

The PRES exams are the Medical Council’s pre-registration exams and doctors who have qualified outside of the EU and wish to apply for general registration are required to pass or be exempt from these exams. They are comprised of two assessments; a computer based written examination (PRES Level 2) and a clinical based examination (PRES Level 3).

The PRES 2 exams are held 4 times a year and there are 50 places in each sitting which meets the current demand. If demand for places grows, there is flexibility to increase capacity.

The UK’s General Medical Council (GMC) is the service provider in respect of the PRES 2 exams. Costs are based on the number of candidates and are met in full by the exam fees paid.

The PRES 2 exams re-commenced in May 2023, having ceased for a number of years when applicants were instead required to pass one of four overseas exams deemed equivalent to PRES 2. 43 doctors sat the PRES 2 exam in 2023. 113 doctors sat the PRES 2 exam in 2024, and 186 doctors have taken the exam in 2025 to date.

The PRES Level 3 exams are facilitated and co-ordinated by the medical schools in Ireland, and the number of available places depends on the availability and capacity of the medical schools to host the exams.

The cost of the PRES 3 exams is covered by the exam fees paid by candidates, with any shortfall being met by the Medical Council. As the Deputy is aware the Medical Council is an independent regulatory body and is funded by fees paid by doctors. In recent years, my Department has provided funding which covers two attempts at both the PRES 2 and the PRES 3 exams by doctors from Ukraine and doctors who have been granted international protection in Ireland.

The table below sets out the detail requested by the Deputy in relation to the PRES 3 exams.

-	Number of exams per year	Number of exam places available	Number of applications received	Number of places offered	Number who sat the exam
2020	Not held in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions	-	-	-	-
2021	1*	78	56	56	54
2022	2	100	81	81	75
2023	2	98	103	98	87
2024	2	100	100	100	84
2025 (to date)	1**	60	197	60	60

*Due to Covid-19 travel restrictions in place, the exam was offered to all eligible applicants who were based in Ireland at the time

**Two additional exams yet to take place later this year – with a further 80 places allotted in total over these two dates

From 2021 to date, 279 doctors have passed the PRES 3 exam. Of these, 266 doctors are currently active on the register.

I am aware that currently the number of sittings of the PRES 3 exam is not meeting the demand for places and I have asked the Medical Council to revert to me with proposals to increase capacity and address the rising demand. I understand that the Council is actively exploring different avenues and options in this regard. Officials in my Department will continue to engage with the Council to progress this matter.