383. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of doubling the number of places on college therapy programmes including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43773/24]

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous institutions responsible for their own academic affairs including the curriculum and student numbers on individual courses. The costs incurred by a HEI in increasing student places on a particular course or establishing an additional course can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant HEI.

Where additionally is required on courses or a new course is required, specific engagement with the sector and external stakeholders is very often required. This process allows for a deeper consideration of wider issues such as capacity, staffing, other supports, availability of placements, capital investment in buildings and equipment etc. It is therefore, not possible to definitively calculate the costs sought in the absence of a specific engagement with the sector.

The delivery of healthcare programmes is complex and requires multiple parts of the health and education systems working together.

It should be noted that in recent years there has been a substantial expansion of therapy and key healthcare places in Higher Education Institutions in Ireland. In July, Government approved the prioritisation of funding to support the expansion of training places in priority healthcare areas including Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy, as well as Physiotherapy.

This will contribute to delivering expansion in the region of 35% in these vital disciplines over the next two academic years. Additional places commencing in September 2024 include expanded intakes on Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Podiatric Medicine programmes in University of Galway, Physiotherapy in RCSI and the introduction of an undergraduate Occupational Therapy programme in University of Limerick.

In addition, 80 additional allied health places were made available in Ulster University in September 2023. These places included 30 Physiotherapy places, 28 Occupational Therapy and 10 Speech and language therapy places. These students are undertaking their practice education placements in healthcare settings in Northern Ireland. 140 places in Nursing & Midwifery are also being funded across Ulster University and Queen's University Belfast. While these places were secured on a one-year basis, engagement is underway to extend the arrangements.

In addition, on 18th October 2024, following recommendations received from the HEA, I announced that several universities will establish new programmes in key healthcare areas including new Bachelor of Dental Surgery in RCSI, new Pharmacy programmes in South East Technological University, Atlantic Technological University and the University of Galway, and a new Rural and Remote Graduate Entry Medicine stream in the University of Galway, as well as a Direct Entry Medicine in the University of Limerick.

This announcement I believe demonstrates our continued ambition and commitment to improving healthcare for those in our communities, and providing more opportunities for students to study in Ireland for those who are passionate to work in healthcare professions.

Enhancing student capacity to meet projected workforce demand is a key consideration of workforce planning and is key to enabling further expansion on these programmes. Practice education placements are essential to support clinical skills development and the application of theory to patient care and attainment of regulatory required standards of proficiency where applicable.

Extensive engagement is ongoing between officials in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and officials in the Department of Health, as well as the HSE and higher education sector. Work is underway on the oversight and infrastructure for clinical placements to enable further expansion.