Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 May 2026
392. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the additional pharmacy training places that will be made available at Trinity College Dublin as a result of the Government's €28.5 million investment into healthcare education announced recently during the debate in Dáil Éireann on cancer services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38607/26]
View answerMy Department instructed the HEA to conduct an Expression of Interest process for the expansion of healthcare and veterinary training. The first EOI was introduced in October 2022 and was for the expansion of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine. Applications were invited from all Higher Education Institutions.
Trinity College Dublin did not submit an expression of interest to expand their existing Pharmacy programme under the EOI process. Expansion of programmes and the creation of new programmes is the decision of the individual HEIs in line with their autonomy.
Pharmacy provision has expanded significantly since the EOI process began with new Pharmacy programmes in the University of Galway, Atlantic Technological University and another new programme commencing intake in September 2026 in the South East Technological University. This will provide a greater geographical spread for students who wish to study Pharmacy.
My Department will continue to work with the HEA and the Department of Health and the HSE to meet workforce needs in the health sector.
