Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2025
34. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what plans are in place to increase the number of degree courses for occupational therapy and speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14527/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis government is prioritising workforce planning across health and disability services, including in Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy disciplines.
My officials and I are working closely with other Departments to address workforce needs by expanding training places in areas of acute skills shortages, ensuring a strong pipeline of qualified graduates for our health and social care workforce. I recently met with my cabinet colleagues, including the Minister for Health and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, to discuss this issue. We are aligned in our commitment to expanding training places in therapy disciplines.
Last July, my Department and the Department of Health prepared a joint memo for Government, committing both Departments to prioritising funding for the expansion of key healthcare disciplines, including therapy professions. As a next step, my officials have requested that the HEA explore increasing places across existing therapy courses. If needed, this will be followed by an assessment of new course provisions.
Significant progress has already been made, with nearly 1,000 additional places created in health and social care programmes at Irish universities in recent years. In September 2024, expansions included:
• 40 additional Occupational Therapy places (20 at the University of Limerick and 20 at the University of Galway).
• 15 additional Speech and Language Therapy places at the University of Galway
In 2023 following engagements between my Department and the Departments of Health (North and South), a joint proposal was agreed to support Republic of Ireland students enrolling in healthcare courses at Northern Irish institutions, with funding shared between my Department and the Department of Health. Many of these places were in therapy disciplines. While this agreement was initially a one-off arrangement, discussions are ongoing about the potential for future intakes.
As part of this initiative in 2023, 80 places in Allied Health Professions (AHP) at Ulster University were funded for Republic of Ireland students, co-financed by DFHERIS and the Department of Health. In 2024, this increased to 83 AHP places, again co-funded by DoH and DFHERIS.
This included:
• 28 Occupational Therapy places in 2023, with a further 27 in 2024.
• 10 Speech and Language Therapy places in 2023, with an additional 8 in 2024.
Engagement with Northern Ireland institutions is ongoing to explore further expansion opportunities beyond 2024.
It is important to note that expanding these programmes is complex and requires strong collaboration between the health and education sectors. Sustainable clinical placements and practice tutors are essential to increasing student capacity and ensuring a steady supply of graduates. I remain committed to working with government colleagues to strengthen workforce planning in healthcare and disability services through the expansion of these vital programmes.
