Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has warmly welcomed the announcement of a new €75 million capital programme under Project Ireland 2040 to expand healthcare education and training capacity.
The Healthcare Education Activation Programme (HEAP), funded through the National Training Fund under the National Development Plan, will support new buildings and refurbishment projects across higher education institutions to increase places on healthcare courses, introduce new programmes and address critical workforce shortages.
Minister Canney said the investment represents a significant step forward for Galway in particular.
Two major projects at University of Galway have secured approval in principle under the programme – a new Medical School and the launch of a Pharmacy programme.
The proposed four-storey Medical School, linked to the existing Block E building, will support the development of a Rural and Remote Graduate Entry Medicine Stream aimed at addressing the shortage of GPs in rural communities. At full roll-out, the programme will provide 48 additional medicine places per year.
Minister Canney said: “This is a hugely important investment for Galway and for the wider region. Expanding medicine and pharmacy education at University of Galway will help ensure we train more doctors and pharmacists here at home, particularly for rural and regional communities that need them most.”
He also welcomed approval in principle for the repurposing of existing space at Atlantic Technological University’s Sligo campus to support its Pharmacy programme.
“As a former lecturer in GMIT, now Atlantic Technological University, I know first-hand the impact our technological universities have on regional development. Supporting ATU Sligo to expand its pharmacy provision is another strong example of investment in skills outside Dublin, creating opportunities for students while responding directly to national workforce needs.”
Nationally, the programme will also support new healthcare education infrastructure at other institutions and has already enabled the launch of a new Bachelor of Dental Surgery at RCSI. In addition, €6.6 million is being invested to create 461 additional training places across nine Health and Social Care Professions, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, radiography and social work.
Minister Canney added: “This is about planning ahead – increasing training places now so that we have the skilled healthcare professionals our communities will rely on in the years ahead. It is an investment in people, in regional growth and in the long-term sustainability of our health system.”
