I thank the Deputy for her question. I am working to ensure that we have more graduates in healthcare disciplines, and particularly the therapies, to supply the children's disability network teams, and the broader healthcare workforce needs. Work is ongoing in collaboration with the Department of Health, HSE and the Higher Education Sector to maximise the expansion in key discipline areas which can be delivered in the immediate term.
The Government in this jurisdiction funded 80 additional places in allied health disciplines in Ulster University. Students commended study on these programmes in September 2023. These included 30 places in Physiotherapy, 28 in Occupational Therapy and 10 in Speech and Language Therapy. This is in addition to 140 nursing places being funded across Queens University Belfast and Ulster University.
Minister Nesbitt and I have been in correspondence in relation to further cross-border collaboration, and we share the objective to extend these innovative arrangements into the 2024/25 academic year. This will strengthen the healthcare workforce on the island. My officials are continuing to work with Ulster University and colleagues in relevant Departments in Northern Ireland in this regard.
My priority is to ensure that we build capacity which will allow for steady growth and forward planning by both the health and higher education sectors for a graduate pipeline to meet the needs of the health system and society as a whole.
