New Mid-West Undergraduate Medicine course a hugely positive development for the region – Crowe

Confirmation of the Mid-West’s first undergraduate Medicine programme has been welcomed by Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe, who says it has the potential to be transformative for the region’s students.

Deputy Crowe was speaking after a huge €130 million investment in healthcare third level places was announced by the Department of Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science (DFHERIS) on Friday morning.

As part of the significant investment, which comes from the National Training Fund, the University of Limerick is to launch a direct entry medicine programme. Building on its expertise as a provider of Graduate Entry Medicine, UL is set to play a key role in addressing Ireland’s need for more medical professionals.

According to Deputy Crowe: “Previously, students from Clare, Limerick and Tipperary who wished to become doctors had to study elsewhere and then had the option to return to University of Limerick for postgraduate medical training.

“The announcement this morning that the University of Limerick will soon be offering undergraduate Medicine is hugely welcome and will open the door to many students in the region who wish to pursue medicine.

“This announcement allows the potential for students from the Mid-West to do all of their medical training in the region and enter the workforce here afterwards.”

Deputy Crowe also welcomed confirmation of a new programme in the University of Galway aimed at addressing the shortage of general practitioners in rural Ireland.

He said: “As a member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, I have long called for additional resources and supports for those who are considering a career in General Practice as we are crying out for local doctors.

“In the past few months, we have seen various disruptions to local GP services in Clare and I have been working with communities around the county on these issues. It is estimated that the roll-out of the new Rural and Remote Graduate Entry Medicine Stream in the University of Galway will provide close to 50 additional GPs per year and these are very welcome in addressing the shortages we have seen recently.”

Also announced today is a new pharmacy programmes in the University of Galway, Atlantic Technological University and South East Technological University, in addition to a new Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme offered by the Royal College of Surgeons.