Healthcare Course Shortage Targeted With 1,100 New College Places

Monday, 16 February 2026 09:52

By Martin Osborne

The expansion, announced by Higher Education Minister and Kildare North TD James Lawless, comes as demand for healthcare degrees continues to outstrip supply - forcing many Irish students to go overseas to study.

More than 1,100 additional third-level places in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and other healthcare courses are to be created this year under a new €28.5 million Government investment.

Under the funding package, higher education institutions will deliver over 1,100 extra healthcare training places annually for the next three years.

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