Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2026
916. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider the introduction of paid clinical placements for student veterinary nurses, in line with other healthcare training programmes, in recognition of the significant financial and workload pressures they face; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28685/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very mindful of the significant demands placed on student veterinary nurses during clinical placements, including the financial pressures associated with undertaking supervised practice as a core requirement of their training. I recognise that these pressures can be challenging, particularly given the essential role that clinical placements play in developing professional competence in this field.
Higher education institutions operate within a framework of statutory academic autonomy. This autonomy extends to the design and delivery of programmes, including the structure of clinical placements and any associated arrangements. As such, it is not open to me, as Minister, to direct individual institutions to introduce paid clinical placements as part of specific programmes.
Arrangements for clinical placements in veterinary nursing are also shaped by professional and regulatory requirements. The content, duration and supervision of placements are determined by higher education institutions in conjunction with the Veterinary Council of Ireland, which sets the standards required for qualification and registration as a veterinary nurse. My Department does not have a direct role in organising, approving or funding individual clinical placements.
More broadly, the provision of paid clinical placements varies across healthcare and healthcare-related disciplines, reflecting differences in professional regulation, funding models and the role of the health or agricultural sectors in service delivery. In the case of veterinary nursing, placements are typically delivered in private veterinary practices rather than within the publicly funded health system, which presents distinct structural and funding considerations.
While I cannot mandate changes to placement remuneration models, I fully accept the importance of keeping these issues under review. My Department continues to engage with the higher education sector and relevant stakeholders on matters of access, affordability and student supports, and I would expect institutions to be mindful of the financial and workload pressures faced by students when designing and reviewing programme requirements.
In a wider context, my Department is actively supporting the expansion and strengthening of veterinary education capacity to meet identified workforce needs. Through the Veterinary Places Activation Programme (VPAP), new veterinary medicine degree programmes are being established at Atlantic Technological University and South East Technological University, working in partnership with agricultural colleges such as Mountbellew and Kildalton. These initiatives are designed to increase the domestic supply of veterinary professionals and support regional access to veterinary education.
I will continue to work closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the higher education sector and the Veterinary Council of Ireland to ensure that veterinary education pathways are sustainable, accessible and aligned with workforce and regulatory requirements, while also being responsive to the experiences of students undertaking these programmes.
