Third Level Admissions
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-29
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Catherine Callaghan (FG), Carlow-Kilkenny

I thank the Minister for the response. I am heartened to hear that solid measures are being taken to provide more training places, not just for speech and language and occupational therapists but also for dieticians, physiotherapists and educational psychologists, in particular. It is a welcome measure.
We are all aware that this challenge is not just about training staff; it is also about retaining them. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, is working on reforming how therapies are delivers to ensure services are delivered more efficiently and effectively to those who need them without undue delay. However, Carlow CNDT still faces one of the highest rates of staff shortages. The most recent figures show that almost 45% of positions in the CDNT are vacant, despite sustained efforts to provide specialists. With that in mind, does the Minister have any plans to introduce an apprenticeship-style avenue for health and social care personnel to allow for continuous professional development in while in employment, perhaps even up to PhD level, to encourage higher retention in the sector?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:34+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-29