Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2026
92. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has sought or received reports or analysis regarding the numbers of international students attending high-demand courses in Irish universities; the findings of such reports or analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49312/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I set out previously in responding to parliamentary questions related to this matter, the Department does not hold figures on the number of international students attending courses in high demand in Irish universities.
While the Higher Education Authority collects and publishes enrolment data, including data on international students and broad fields of study, it does not produce separate statistics identifying international student numbers on such programmes.
The most recent HEA data does show there were 32,940 non-EEA students enrolled in publicly funded higher education institutions in 2024/25, representing approximately 12% of the total student population. As I suggested previously, programme-specific information can, however, be requested from the Higher Education Authority or relevant higher education institutions.
The Government is committed to ensuring there is capacity in the system to meet the demands of our learners. I have, therefore, initiated a significant system-wide expansion of capacity in high-demand courses, particularly across healthcare disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy and the health and social care professions, increasing overall capacity and supporting greater access for students.
This includes an ongoing expansion of CAO entry pathways, with new programmes coming on stream and further increases in student intake across existing courses, supported through targeted investment such as the Healthcare Education Activation Programme.
This year has also seen the delivery of additional undergraduate medicine places completing the delivery of 200 new places agreed by Government, the introduction of a new direct entry medicine programme in University of Limerick and the continued expansion in programme areas such as nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and physiotherapy. New veterinary medicine programmes are also commencing this year, adding 80 places, more than doubling provision for Irish/EU students and increasing overall capacity in high-demand areas.
