The Medical Council has expressed its opposition to plans by the Minister for Education and Science, Mr Dempsey, to introduce graduate-only medical education.
In its latest report to the public on medical schools, it says, "Council has serious concerns about the appropriateness of converting to exclusive graduate entry".
The document notes that the exclusion of school-leavers may deter some students from a career in medicine. In a reference to the availability of student grants, it states: "Graduate entry may not be equitable as the funding arrangements have not been clarified and may require entrants to be self-funding".
Sources said yesterday they were concerned that graduate medical courses would find it difficult to deliver the minimum 5,500 hours of training required by a 1993 EU directive. They also pointed out that Mr Dempsey's plans would require Medical Council approval as it was the statutory body with responsibility for accrediting medical education.
The Medical Council document expresses a preference for the integration of graduates into existing medical school programmes.
Last summer, Mr Dempsey announced that from 2007, only graduates would be admitted to medical courses in the Republic.