Pringle calls on Government to extend support programme for medical students
- Updated: 30th May 2024
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has called on Government to expand a new initiative supporting medical students that would benefit students from Donegal and across the country.
Addressing the Dáil on Wednesday, Deputy Pringle said: “As you can imagine, there are many young constituents in Donegal who go on to study in the North, given its close proximity to home and given the housing shortage in Dublin at the moment.
“At the beginning of this year, it was announced that funding would be made available for 25 additional medical places for qualifying students in Queen’s from September 2024 and that as part of the arrangement, students will pay the €3,000 fee charged in the Republic, with the State covering the rest of the tuition cost.
“This is great news for the many students looking to study medicine in Donegal and across the country, many of whom will look to come back to the Republic to practise once graduated,” he said.
The deputy raised the issue during Questions on policy or legislation.
Deputy Pringle said: “Will you ensure that this project is extended to the rest of the universities in the North, such as Ulster University, to allow more students to study medicine, given the severe lack of GPs and the needs that we have here in the South as well?”
In his response, the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, said he thought it was a great initiative for the island of Ireland, for the northwest in particular, for medical education and for opportunities for young people.
