Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
876. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on technological universities becoming providers of medical school education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57229/25]
View answerMeeting the workforce planning needs of the public health sector in a sustainable manner requires a whole-of-government approach. In response to this challenge, and following extensive engagement with the Department of Health, my Department requested the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to lead two Expression of Interest (EoI) processes aimed at identifying capacity for expansion in training places aligned to key public sector skills needs.
In 2022, the first EoI process was initiated in response to workforce demands articulated by both the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This process focused on identifying potential expansion in Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine. The outcome was transformative: an unprecedented investment in new programmes with broad geographic distribution. This included the establishment of a new Dentistry programme, two new Veterinary Medicine programmes, three new Pharmacy programmes, two new Medicine programmes, and a new Nursing programme.
Technological Universities have played a pivotal role in this expansion. The TU sector has long-standing provision in Nursing, with programmes delivered across multiple campuses. More recently, TUs have broadened their healthcare offerings, with a new Pharmacy programme now available in both Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and another due to launch next year in South East Technological University (SETU). Notably, ATU and SETU are also home to the newly announced Veterinary Medicine programmes, marking a significant milestone in the diversification of healthcare education within the TU sector.
Earlier this year a second EoI process was conducted, this time focusing on key health and social care professions, including the therapies. This resulted in the creation of 461 new places, 110 of which are within Technological Universities. These include the expansion of dietetics and medical science programmes at Technological University Dublin (TUD), and the launch of a new physiotherapy programme at ATU. These developments build on the TU sector’s existing strengths in medical science and social care education, and reflect its growing contribution to meeting national health workforce needs.
Looking ahead, it is my intention to continue this strategic approach to expansion, anchored in evidence, guided by stakeholder input, and coordinated through the HEA. This model ensures that growth is targeted, sustainable, and responsive to evolving public sector demands.
In parallel, my Department is exploring alternative pathways into tertiary education, including apprenticeships and tertiary degrees delivered outside the CAO system. These pathways offer opportunities for a more diverse student cohort and will be integral to our broader strategy to address public sector and economic skills needs.
I remain committed to working with my Government colleagues and the higher education sector, including the Technological Universities, to identify and address areas of skills shortage across the public service, ensuring that our education system continues to support the delivery of high-quality public services nationwide.
