I propose to take Questions Nos. 500, 501 and 502 together.
The Government recognises the need for expansion in the provision of Veterinary Medicine programmes.
These programmes are complex to deliver and require appropriate equipment, laboratory facilities, and appropriately qualifies teaching staff, to meet the requirements of the regulator.
As you are aware, the HEA Expression of Interest process brought to Government in June last year identified a number of options to expand third level places. The options identified through the HEA's process have the potential to transform the numbers of students who can take up places in these key areas. This would be an expansion at a scale rarely seen and is a significant investment of public funding in our Higher Education Institutions. There are substantial capital costs associated with the development of many of the proposals and it is important that the scale of the costs is fully understood and planned for. Consideration is ongoing as to how these capital costs could be met, and I am working closely with my colleague Minister McConologue on this.
At the point when we have established the available level of funding, I will ask the HEA to re-engage with the higher education sector on the potential options, and we will progress to a process considering a range of factors including alignment with skills need, deliverability, regional considerations and value for money.
I want to assure you that increasing places in veterinary medicine is of key importance and a shared priority for Minister McConalogue and for me, and our Departments are continuing to work closely on this matter.
