Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
1262. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide pathways to enable mobility between the health and education sector to transition into special education posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12287/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to expanding and diversifying pathways into further and higher education, including routes that address skills shortages and support the development of priority public services.
In recent years, we have significantly broadened the range of tertiary programmes and structured progression pathways, enabling learners to begin their studies in further education and progress seamlessly into higher education qualifications. These programmes are specifically designed to open access to professions where skills demand is high, such as healthcare, social care, and allied disciplines.
The Department continues to work closely with the HSE and other stakeholders to align education provision with workforce needs in health and social care, which have been identified and prioritised by the Department of Health. This collaboration has already supported major expansions in student training places across key professional areas, including nursing, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, and other health and social care professions, addressing workforce needs across health, disability, and education services.
While existing initiatives primarily focus on strengthening the workforce within health and social care, the insights gained through this interdepartmental engagement help to inform broader policy considerations, including the potential to widen access pathways to roles in supporting special education, should a demand analysis support this. The Minister for Education and Youth is overseeing the development of a new Educational National Therapy Service.
My Department will continue to support government colleagues in actively responding to emerging skills needs across both sectors, and the structured, flexible models already in place, such as tertiary programmes and expanded professional training routes, provide a strong foundation on which such pathways could be considered in future.
My Department will continue to engage with the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the HSE, and the Higher Education Authority to explore opportunities for alignment between qualifications frameworks, professional requirements, and skills planning, with the aim of ensuring that both sectors are equipped with the appropriately trained professionals needed to meet the needs of learners with additional needs.
