Pharmacy Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026

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Tuesday, 19 May 2026

Questions (1327)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

1327. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details on the number of pharmacy students currently enrolled across all Higher Education Institutions offering accredited pharmacy programmes in Ireland, broken down by institution; the projected number of pharmacy graduates expected to enter the workforce annually over the next five years; if he is satisfied that graduate output is aligned with national workforce planning requirements in the pharmacy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36947/26]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The data requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following tables, which was sourced from the statistics section of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and rounded to the nearest 5 (or multiple of) in line with their data policy.

The most recent data available from the HEA is from the last academic year and therefore does not include the new programmes from September 2025 in the University of Galway or the Atlantic Technological University. There is also another new programme which is due to commence in September 2026 in the South East Technological University.

My Department provides student data collected by the HEA to the Department of Health, who utilise this data for their workforce planning projections. The Department of Health then advise my Department regarding additional places required in the tertiary education system. It is worth noting that a significant amount of expansion has been achieved to date across all healthcare disciplines, including Pharmacy, and my Department will continue to work with the HEA, Department of Health and the HSE to continue this important work.

Pharamcy

Pharmacy Enrolments		2022/2023	2022/2023 Total		2023/2024	2023/2024 Total		2024/2025	2024/2025 Total
HEI	EU including NI/UK	Non-EU		EU including NI/UK	Non-EU		EU including NI/UK	Non-EU
Royal College of Surgeons	175	105	280	205	100	300	240	105	345
Trinity College Dublin	290	10	300	270	15	285	265	25	290
University College Cork	260	25	285	250	30	280	260	30	290
Grand Total	725	140	865	725	140	865	765	160	925

Pharmacy Graduates		2022	2022 Total		2023	2023 Total		2024	2024 Total
HEI	EU including NI/UK	Non-EU		EU including NI/UK	Non-EU		EU including NI/UK	Non-EU
Royal College of Surgeons	45	15	60	35	25	60	55	20	75
Trinity College Dublin	75	5	75	65	5	65	70	0	70
University College Cork	65	5	70	65	0	65	55	5	65
Grand Total	185	20	205	165	25	190	180	25	205

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