Government to fund more nursing and allied health profession places for Republic of Ireland students in Ulster University

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has today announced a significant increase in the number of third level places available in healthcare courses, affirming his department’s commitment to the shared goal of developing the health and social care workforce across the Island of Ireland.

In 2023, an arrangement was put in place that enabled the Irish Government to fund places in Nursing, Midwifery, and Allied Health Profession disciplines at Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast. This initiative facilitated valuable educational opportunities for students and strengthened collaborative ties to address healthcare needs.

This year the Minister for Health is pleased to confirm provision of 161 additional places in nursing and other health and social care professions, including key therapy disciplines, in Northern Ireland. This includes an increase of 78 places in nursing and an increase of 83 places in the undergraduate intake in health and social care professions, including Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics Speech and Language Therapy, Dietetics and Radiography.

The Department of Health works in collaboration with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation Science (DHERIS) on health and social care workforce planning measures and this initiative will be co-funded by both departments. Approximately €9.5 million in funding will to be provided over the period 2024 – 2028.

This successful collaboration exemplifies the benefits of North-South cooperation in training highly qualified healthcare professionals to enhance our workforce development initiatives and ultimately enhance the quality of care in communities across the island.

Minister Donnelly said:

Detail of healthcare courses

This agreement provides for approx. 160 Republic of Ireland domicile student in this year’s intake into Ulster University. The students include the following.

Funding will also be made available for up to 18 Northern Ireland-domiciled students for intake in February 2025 in Queen’s University Belfast.

2023 Agreement

Under a similar agreement in 2023, 122 Nursing and Midwifery places in Northern Ireland were funded by the Department of Health. In addition, 80 Allied Health Professional places in Northern Ireland were co-funded by the Department of Health and DFHERIS.

Agreement for additional medicine places

In 2024, 25 medicine places in Northern Ireland were co-funded by the Department of Health and DFHERIS. A further 25 medicine places in Northern Ireland will be funded in 2025.

Additional places on Health-related courses

Additional places commencing in September 2024 include:

• 20 additional Speech and Language Therapy places - Expansion of University of Galway BSc programme
• 40 additional Occupational Therapy places - Introduction of new BSc programme with 20 places in Occupation Therapy in University of Limerick and expansion of 20 places on University of Galway BSc Occupational Therapy programme
• 15 additional Podiatric Medicine places - Expansion of University of Galway BSc programme
• 10 additional Physiotherapy places - Expansion of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland BSc programme
• 40 additional Medicine places - continued implementation of 2022 agreement

Further work is underway to increase the domestic supply of doctors, nurses and health and social care professionals.