Radical shake-up to boost medical school places

EDUCATION Minister Mary Hanafin is to announce a radical shake-up of entry into medicine in a bid to tackle to shortfall of students choosing medical courses.

The Fottrell Report on Undergraduate Medical Education and Training, published today, recommended that the number of Irish and EU students being trained in medicine increase from 305 per year to 725 in 2010 to meet future medical needs.

It recommended that up to 40% of these places should be available for degree holders.