Written Answers Nos. 390-395
390. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of non-EU student graduates from medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine programmes who left the State within five years of completing their studies. [38518/26]
View answer391. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of non-EU student graduates from medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine programmes who left the State within ten years of completing their studies. [38519/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together.
Tracking graduate outcomes is important for monitoring and improving the quality and outcomes for learners in higher education. My Department does not collect student data, this is done by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) statistics section. The data requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department.
The main source of data regarding graduates following completion of their programmes of study is the HEA Graduate Outcomes Survey, which is conducted by the HEA annually. While there is an overview of international students generally the data foes not provide the detail requested. The Department of Health may have more detailed information regarding non EU graduates from healthcare related programmes following the completion of their studies.
The HEA survey report can be found here: hea.ie/statistics/graduate-outcomes/key-findings-go-2024/
The Central Statistics Office also make use of this data as per the report below which includes data from the Revenue Comissioners:
www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-heo/highereducationoutcomes-graduationyears2010-2019/
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.
393. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to support and acknowledge South Kerry Development Partnership's programme of works, (details supplied) and pre-budget submission in regard to CAP negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38480/26]
View answerLocal Development Companies across the country such as South Kerry Development Partnership complete invaluable work within their communities. The 2025 programme of work provided by South Kerry Development Partnership outlines this work in detail, with some of the programmes outlined being funded by my Department.
For example, the LEADER programme is a core component of my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme and has been operating successfully in Ireland for 35 years. As the Deputy will be aware, the current programme runs from 2023 to 2027 and has a total allocation of €180 million.
Within this overall budgetary allocation, the LEADER Local Action Group in Kerry has an allocation of €8.2 million. I wish to acknowledge the work undertaken to date by the Local Action Group, Kerry Local Community Development Committee, with their implementing partners South Kerry Development Partnership CLG and North, East & West Kerry Development in delivering LEADER in Kerry, engaging with businesses and communities to progress projects that have a positive impact throughout the county.
My Department also funds the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, SICAP, which is delivered by the South Kerry Development Partnership in the South Kerry and Killarney region. SICAP is Ireland’s primary social inclusion intervention and works to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches. It targets and supports those who are disadvantaged in Irish society and less likely to use mainstream services. Funding of approximately €650,000 has been allocated to the Partnership for delivery of SICAP in 2026, with an additional €433,000 allocated for delivery of programme supports to New Arrivals in the community.
The Partnership is also involved in delivery of the Community Connection Project (CCP) in south Kerry, with funding of €106,922 allocated for recruitment of a Community Link Worker. The CCP works to build community resilience against misinformation and prejudice through the Link Worker engaging with the local community using a community development approach before, during and after the arrival of International Protection Applicants into the area. The programme runs complementary to SICAP’s work directly with New Arrivals themselves, as well as with other government initiatives at local level, such as the Local Authority Integration Teams.
I want to acknowledge South Kerry Development Partnership and other Local Development Companies for the work they complete on these and other programmes for both my Department and right across Government.
I note that the Local Community Development Network are to develop a pre-budget submission. While some multiannual programmes already have allocations set in advance, where aspects of this submission relate to schemes funded by my Department, these will be considered in the context of my Department's discussions on Budget 2027.
394. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if there are any grant schemes administered by his Department which can support a community group to purchase office equipment such as a laptop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38560/26]
View answerThe Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) supports communities that are impacted by disadvantage, as identified in the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) of the relevant local authority. It provides small capital grants to community and voluntary groups for the improvement/refurbishment of their facilities and/or the purchase of office equipment including laptops. In general, support under the LEP is available to, for example, Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s and Women’s Sheds.
The Local Enhancement Programme for 2026 was announced on 5 December 2025 and provides €7 million in capital supports to many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged communities in rural and urban areas. The fund is administered locally on behalf of the Department by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their local authority. Each LCDC decides the projects that are funded under LEP 2026.
The closing date for community groups to submit applications for LEP 2026 was 27 February 2026. Therefore, the 2026 programme is now closed for applications. This Department is currently considering a Local Enhancement Programme for 2027.
The current LEADER programme covers the period from 2023 to 2027 and it provides support to rural communities under a broad range of themes. It has for many years supported community groups and local businesses to purchase office ICT equipment such as laptops, screens, projectors, etc. Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their Local Action Group, through its Implementing Partner to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available.
The Department would encourage all community and voluntary organisations to check our website at www.gov.ie/drcdg, and to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN), to ensure they are aware of all existing funding opportunities.
395. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the supports, grants or financial assistance available to island residents for the transportation of machinery, equipment and building materials required to carry out essential repair and reinstatement works on offshore islands; if assistance is available to help meet the significant cost of boat hire and transport logistics in cases where essential works follow unforeseen damage such as fire; the criteria for eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38565/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to ensuring that Our Living Islands - the national islands policy - is fully implemented to support sustainable development for island residents.
My Department provides a range of dedicated supports specifically to our inhabited offshore islands, with significant annual investment in subsidised transport services to ensure our island communities can avail of reliable, affordable year-round transport services.
My Department currently subsidises 9 heavy cargo services for 17 separate off-shore islands. In 2025, the most recent full year of service, over 40,000 tonnes of heavy cargo were carried on these services at a cost of €2.17m to the exchequer.
In addition to the dedicated heavy cargo services, 4 passenger ferry services provide a light cargo element to their service, while another 2 passenger services are delivered using ‘Roll on/ Roll off’ vessels, which also allow the carriage of cargo.
My Department procures these cargo services on the open market, adhering to Office of Government Procurement (OGP) regulations. Tender documents set out maximum charges for different categories of cargo carried on subsidised sailings.
In line with a commitment given in Our Living Islands, the Department has taken measures to help reduce the cost of cargo services as contracts come up for renewal. In particular, the charges for some categories of vehicles and machinery have been revised to support building activity on the islands.
These subsidised cargo services greatly reduce the cost of transporting cargo to and from the islands and provide certainty for island residents as regards delivery timetables.
