Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2026
459. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on plans for State loans or financial assistance packages for those studying graduate medicine programmes. [23014/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government includes a clear commitment to introduce a tuition fee support scheme for Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM), and work to advance this commitment is ongoing at senior official level in my Department. This work is being progressed in collaboration with the Department of Health, which has lead responsibility for the Programme for Government action, and is examining a range of potential support approaches.
My Department is currently assessing options for future tuition fee support for GEM students with a focus on sustainability, targeting, and alignment with long-term medical workforce needs. This work includes engagement with the Department of Health, the Higher Education Authority, the higher education institutions and relevant regulatory bodies. Any future scheme will need to be carefully designed so that it is effective and complements broader workforce planning.
As you are aware, Graduate Entry Medicine is undertaken as a second degree, and the wider system of student supports - including SUSI grants and the Free Fees Initiative - has historically been structured around the principle of fairness, reflecting long-standing funding arrangements that prioritised first-time undergraduate qualifications. However, the Government recognises that GEM students face distinct financial pressures, and tailored supports specific to this cohort are being actively examined in line with the Programme for Government commitment.
Substantial State support for Graduate Entry Medicine is already in place. The Exchequer part-subsidises tuition fees for GEM places across all institutions, and recent Budget measures have significantly increased the value of this subsidy - from €11,950 per student in 2021/22 to €16,250 for all graduate entrants from 2026. The total annual cost of these subsidies is now approximately €13 million. Remaining tuition fee levels are set by autonomous higher education institutions.
GEM students can also access a wide suite of existing supports. These include National Access Plan bursaries, the Student Assistance Fund, tax relief on tuition fees and rent, and where eligible the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD). Importantly, holders of the 1916 Bursary who progress to GEM may retain that support for up to four years. These measures help mitigate the financial pressures that can arise during the programme.
Higher education institutions, under legislation, retain autonomy in determining their admissions policies and fee levels. This autonomy is an important feature of the Irish higher education system and informs how institutions structure their programmes and student cohorts.
In parallel with work to improve affordability, Government continues to expand medical education capacity significantly. This includes delivering the 2022 agreement to provide 200 additional medicine places by 2026 a 27% increase as well as new programme developments. These include the Rural and Remote GEM stream at the University of Galway, expected to provide 48 places annually from 2027, and the new Direct Entry Medicine programme at the University of Limerick, enrolling its first 30 students in 2026. Engagement also continues on additional provision in Northern Ireland. These developments are being supported by major investment under the Healthcare Education Activation Programme (HEAP), which is delivering additional medical, pharmacy, dentistry, and health and social care profession places.
My Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Health and other Government colleagues to ensure that both affordability measures and capacity expansion are progressed in a coordinated way. Our shared objective is to support access, reduce financial barriers where possible, and strengthen the medical workforce required to meet the future needs of the health service.
