Additional medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry programmes come onstream in bid to address shortages 

University of Galway will introduce a rural and remote graduate entry medicine stream. Meanwhile, the University of Limerick (UL) will launch a direct entry medicine programme. Picture: Pexels

Six new degree programmes in medicine, pharmacy and dentistry are expected to come on stream from next year as part of a bid to address critical shortages.

The move is also likely to ease the pressure faced by students when it comes to securing a college place through the CAO process.

Funding worth €130m from the National Training Fund (NTF) has been approved for the new programmes, Minister for Further and Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan announced yesterday.

The new programmes include a new Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) which creates 20 new dentistry places from 2025 onwards.

The number of pharmacy training programmes is also set to double, with the Atlantic Technological University, South East Technological University, and University of Galway each to introduce new programmes.

This will provide more than 150 additional pharmacy graduates per year.

University of Galway will also introduce a rural and remote graduate entry medicine stream. Meanwhile, the University of Limerick (UL) will launch a direct entry medicine programme. The university is currently undergoing a section 64 review with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) following concerns around its governance and culture.

The HEA said that prior to commencing or progressing the project “enhanced oversight, governance, and reporting arrangements” will be required and implemented by the HEA.

“The continued satisfaction of the HEA in respect of progress made in the Section 64 process and any subsequent implementation plan will also be required as part of the progression of this project,” a HEA spokeswoman said.

UL will continue to be closely scrutinized for the next three to five years, she added.

“Nevertheless, given the good co-operation the HEA has had from the university in relation to the Section 64 process, the HEA is satisfied the UL can play its role in providing much-needed medical training places to the midwest region and beyond.”

A spokesman for UL said the university continues to engage with the HEA on the review, and expects to move to the implementation phase, with independent oversight of the process, in due course.