Minister Lawless "Actively Examining" New Loan Scheme To Keep Medical Students From Emigrating After Graduation

Tuesday, 5 May 2026 at 08:49

By Daniel Maher

It comes as 7,000 Irish medical professionals are now registered to work in Australia

Healthcare students would get a new type of loan under a plan being examined by Higher Education Minister and Kildare North TD James Lawless, with part of the debt written off if they remain working in Ireland after graduation.

According to the Irish Independent, Mr Lawless said he was “actively examining” what the Government can do to keep critical workers from emigrating after they graduate by developing a loan scheme or bursary for return of service.

The Sunday Independent recently revealed nearly 7,000 Irish medical professionals are now registered to work in Australia – an 86pc increase in six years.

Mr Lawless said he had asked his officials to examine a scheme where the State would fund the education of a professional “who then gives some contribution back in terms of their employment or their skills to the stage post-graduation”.

This could take the form of a graduate loan scheme, either in a direct subsidy or in partnership with banks.

But Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) courses are not fully covered by the State, with students having to come up with between €15,000 and €20,000 a year to fund the four-year degree.

However, Mr Lawless said he wanted to avoid a situation where those studying medicine were tied to working in Ireland, while their friends studying a different course were able to move abroad if they wanted.

The minister said a bursary scheme was also being explored.

He has asked the Department of Health to examine whether this could work for healthcare staff.