Over half the medical places available in Irish universities are taken by students from outside the State, new figures show.
The figures supplied by the CAO and the Department of Education show the total intake of medical students last year at 658, with 320 from non-EU states and 35 from the EU (including Northern Ireland).
The high number of foreign students entering medical colleges here surprised many in the education sector yesterday.
The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) has the greatest proportion. Of its 184 new students last year, 151 came from non-EU states, compared with 28 from the Republic and five from the rest of the EU (including Northern Ireland).
UCD had the next highest number. Of its 150 intake, 36 were from non-EU states, three from the EU and 111 from the Republic. NUI Galway had the lowest number of non-EU students at just seven.
Students from non-EU states pay heavy fees to attend Irish universities, whereas most Irish students pay no tuition fees. Medical places are in heavy demand. Last year, they dominated the top end of the CAO points table, with an RCSI course topping the list at 600 points.
There has been concern for some years about the number of medical places. Some people have said there should be more places so that the points can be reduced.
The universities do not normally release figures on the origin of students. The figures were given to the Labour TD Ms Breda Moynihan-Cronin, in response to a Dail question. They originally come from the CAO, but were supplied to the TD by the Department's higher education section.
They also reveal another surprising statistic. Last year, 524 Irish students were offered medical places, but only 330 accepted one, despite their traditional popularity. In 1999, 474 offers were made but only 323 accepted a place.
Among those who put medicine as their first preference there was also a high rejection rate. Last year 368 put medicine first, but just 242 accepted a place.
Mr Colm Jordan, USI education officer, said the figures were startling. "It seems extraordinary that such a high percentage of students would turn down their first-preference offer. This is particularly the case when the courses in question demand very high points.
"We can only assume," he added, "there is a connection between these figures and the fact that medical courses are particularly lengthy and costly.
"Medical students face a number of particular financial pressures. Unlike their fellow students in many other disciplines, medical students have a heavy workload of lectures and practicals. This leaves very little time for part-time work. As a result, paying for basic living costs and course costs can be an unbearable financial strain."