Sir, – During the past 18 months, our members have campaigned to draw Government attention to the large number (circa 600) of Irish students forced to study veterinary medicine outside the country, predominantly in eastern Europe, due to a lack of training places here.
Currently almost three-quarters of the annual 300 new veterinary registrants here in Ireland are qualifying outside the country, mainly in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Britain.
Simultaneously and paradoxically, extensive problems of recruitment and retention are being experienced by the veterinary profession, particularly in rural areas.
A rapid political response by the Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris last autumn led to a recent Higher Education Authority assessment of potential sites for a new vet school.
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We understand that this report has identified the University of Limerick as the most suitable location.
We are asking that the shared island unit support the relevant Departments of Higher Education, Agriculture and Public Expenditure to rapidly expedite the implementation of a new all-island vet school in Limerick.
The University of Limerick has committed to providing innovative entrance and educational methods to alleviate current veterinary recruitment and retention concerns. It has also committed to creating an all-island vet school, reserving places for Northern Irish students.
A political decision reached within the next month would allow the the University of Limerick to begin student intake in September 2025, with first graduates out in 2030.
This would allow continued excellent levels of veterinary services to be available to the Irish public North and South, their pets, livestock and our critically important food industry. – Yours, etc,
KATHY ENRIGHT BVM&S, MRCVS,
IAN FLEMING MVB, MRCVS,
CIARAN GARDINER DVM,
FERGAL HENNESSY MVB, MRCVS,
CLARE MEADE MVB,
LIAM MORIARTYMVB,
JAMES QUINN MVB,
MSc, MRCVS,
GERARD ROARTY MVB, MSc, BL, BDentSc, BA,
The Veterinary Working Group for Reform in Irish Veterinary Education,
Kilfenora,
Co Clare.