Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
162. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans 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. [37632/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is working closely with Department of Health colleagues on the expansion of training places in health and social care disciplines, building on the one thousand additional places created in health and social care programmes in recent years.
Further additional places were provided in September 2024 including:
• 15 additional Speech and Language Therapy places - Expansion of University of Galway BSc programme
• 40 additional Occupational Therapy places - Introduction of new BSc programme with 20 places in Occupation Therapy in UL and expansion of 20 places on University of Galway BSc Occupational Therapy programme
• 15 additional Podiatric Medicine places - Expansion of University of Galway BSc programme
• 10 additional Physiotherapy places - Expansion of RCSI BSc programme
In April 2025 an interdepartmental working group (IDWG) was established. It is chaired by officials from my Department and includes officials from Department of Health, the HSE, the HEA, The Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Department of Education and Youth. Their remit was to expand the provision of training places for health and social care professions (HSCP) disciplines.
At the instruction of my Department, the HEA conducted an Expression of Interest Process opening on April 14th and closing on April 25th. This sought to identify capacity to increase provision in HSCP training places for nine priority areas, identified by the Department of Health, on existing higher education courses. The HEA received 24 submissions across all nine disciplines. Following consideration of the results of this Expression of Interest, I, together with my Ministerial colleagues in the Departments of Health, Children, Disability and Equality, and Education and Youth, sought and received Government approval to expand training places in critical HSCP disciplines to include up to an additional 320 student places in 2025, and a further 141 in subsequent years.
It is the intention of the IDWG to run similar processes in the future to include the development of new higher education programmes in areas of skills shortage.
In parallel, a joint initiative with Northern Ireland also supports students from this jurisdiction enrolling in healthcare courses there, including therapy disciplines. I recently visited Belfast, and met with Irish students studying these courses. I will continue to work with colleagues in Northern Ireland on this important initiative.
The provision of healthcare programmes is complex and requires collaboration between the health and higher education sectors, particularly to ensure sufficient clinical placements and practice tutors aligned to the university places.
My Department remains committed to working across Government to address current and future workforce needs and to ensure sustainable expansion of these vital programmes.
