The announcement of 70 new undergraduate medical places from this September was welcomed by medical schools yesterday as a necessary and timely allocation.
Announcing the details of the additional places yesterday, the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, said they represented the first part of reforms that will more than double the number of medical school places over the next four years.
"I know that the additional places being provided this year are very welcome to CAO applicants to medicine who are currently awaiting news of their results. The overall reforms that we are now embarking on in medical education will be of huge benefit to aspiring students," she said.
Ms Hanafin added that the limited number of places available in the past had created enormous competitive pressure for students determined to study for a career in medicine, but that increased places should help matters.
Under the plan, 70 new places will be available in the five medical schools: Trinity College Dublin, UCC, NUI Galway, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and UCD.
Prof Paul Giller, registrar and vice-president in UCC, said the announcement of additional places represented an important element in implementing the Fottrell report.
Prof Shaun McCann, director of undergraduate teaching and learning in TCD's school of medicine, said medical schools would now anticipate curriculum reform and adequate financing from the Government to allow for changes in medicine.
"I've been in medicine for 35 years and this represents the first substantial change in medicine numbers and that has to be welcomed," he said.