No medical school entry changes before 2008

ENTRY methods to medical school for Leaving Certificate students will not change for at least two years, despite a four-year-old Government commitment to ease pressure on school leavers trying to get onto these courses.

Under a €200 million plan announced by Education Minister Mary Hanafin and Health Minister Mary Harney yesterday, 160 extra places a year will be available to prospective doctors straight from school by 2010. They will have to have a minimum Leaving Certificate points score, to be set around 450, and sit an aptitude test.

Also from 2010, a further 240 additional places will be filled annually by degree holders, more than doubling the number of places for Irish and EU students on medicine courses to 725.