Extra 274 college places for courses leading to priority health and social care professions

Courses leading to careers in disability services, primary and community care, and school support — all of which face acute shortages of workers — are prioritised in the rollout of extra places. Stock picture

More than 270 college places are to be added to the system across priority health and social care professions facing acute shortages of workers.

The first phase of the expansion of higher education places aims to increase the domestic supply of skilled professionals in areas such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology, and radiography.

Following Government approval, the additional training places will also see the establishment of a new doctorate in educational psychology.

At full rollout, 274 annual college places are expected to be added in professions playing a critical role in the delivery of disability services, primary and community care, and school support.

The announcement also includes 76 additional entrants for the coming 2026/27 academic year.

Approved programmes have been selected based on workforce need, placement availability, and their capacity to commence in the coming academic years.

Workforce planning is key to the success of initiatives such as the new education therapy service, said education minister Hildegarde Naughton.

“The prioritisation of occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and educational psychology, in particular, will make a real difference towards ensuring we have the workforce needed to deliver a fully inclusive education system.”

Children’s minister Norma Foley said the expansion of places is “essential in tackling persistent shortages in the availability of key professions to work in our disability services”.

The second phase of the project will assess a broader range of proposals, including development of new programmes, she said, adding: 

This will play a critical role in increasing the supply of health and social care workers to meet the current and future needs of people with a disability. 

Courses at UCC, UL, ATU, SETU, and TCD

Programmes include occupational therapy at Atlantic Technological University from 2027, and University of Limerick from 2026, as well as speech and language therapy at Trinity College Dublin from September 2027. 

It also includes social care at South East Technological University, and diagnostic radiography at University College Cork, both from 2026.

Further and higher education minister James Lawless said the places make an important step in building the workforce needed to support health, disability, education, and community services.

'1,400 new health and social care college places by 2029'

“By increasing training opportunities in key professions where shortages are most acute, we are strengthening the pipeline of skilled graduates who will make a real difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities across Ireland,” he said.

Higher Education Authority chief Alan Wall said an extra 1,400 new undergraduate and postgraduate college places in health and social care will come on-stream by 2029. 

“Many of these places are on high-demand programmes.”

• Jess Casey, Education Correspondent