More training places in key healthcare areas

The next phase of the expansion of training places for healthcare professionals in key therapy disciplines has been announced by the Government.

In July, the Government approved funding to support the expansion of training places in areas including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy. The funding will contribute to delivering expansion in the region of 35% in these disciplines over the next two academic years. Additional places commencing in September 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.

The expansion was announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD.

The expansion will see strengthened infrastructure within the HSE to support effective interlinkages between the higher education and healthcare systems and enable increased training capacity.

Minister Donnelly said: “Increasing our future supply of health professionals to meet the needs of our health service is a key priority.Last year we delivered significant expansion in healthcare places, with over 460 additional student places being provided in medicine, nursing and midwifery, and other key healthcare courses in higher education institutions in Ireland. “The planned student expansion in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy, is a welcome development and we expect to be announcing additional places in respect of other disciplines in the near future,” he added.