The South East Technological University’s to introduce a new pharmacy programme.
The Atlantic TU and University of Galway will provide the offering too – between all three the expectation is for approx 150 graduates each year.
That’s according to an announcement from Minister Patrick O’Donovan which sees €130million set aside to support the growth of key healthcare disciplines, addressing critical workforce shortages and enhancing healthcare education across the country.
The University of Galway is to introduce a Rural and Remote Graduate Entry Medicine stream while the University of Limerick will launch a direct entry Medicine programme and the Royal College of Surgeons will get support for its Dental Surgery.
It follows last month’s confirmation of a VET course.
Carlow Kilkenny Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan says “The programmes for advancement, and their locations include the South East Technological University and other universities which will introduce new pharmacy programmes, doubling the number of pharmacy training programmes in Ireland. At full roll-out this will provide more than 150 additional pharmacy graduates per year.
“This announcement, as well as the recent confirmation that a new Veterinary programme will also be offered in the region is a huge vote of confidence in the South East and a further indication of how this government has invested in this region.
“Announcement like this mean that students can stay in the region to study. We’ve lost far too many graduates to colleges in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway in the past, never to return. This augurs well for families, for students, for the local and regional economy and for the pool of graduates across lots of disciplines who will now have a greater chance of staying in the South East.”
Last year alone saw 460 new places in healthcare disciplines, and the government is committed to building on this progress, Deputy Phelan concluded.
