Sir, – We welcome the recent commitment from Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris to expand the number of veterinary schools and bring about a substantial expansion in the number of college places available for those wanting to study veterinary medicine in Ireland (News, June 1st).
The political recognition of the anomalous situation whereby there is currently only one course provider on the island of Ireland, forcing hundreds of students overseas for a veterinary education, is timely.
It is our hope that Cabinet approval before the end of June will allow a course of the scale and quality required to begin in the University of Limerick by September 2025.
Mr Harris has recently stated that “the biggest issue now is making sure we deliver. Delivery is the key test for this Government” (News, June 3rd).
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The veterinary profession, its clients and the many hundreds of aspiring vets in our current Leaving Cert classes look forward to the rapid delivery of the new vet school, to alleviate the current difficulties resulting from a lack of training places. – Yours, etc,
KATHY ENRIGHT,
BVM&S, MRCVS;
IAN FLEMING,
MVB, MRCVS;
CIARAN GARDINER, DVM;
FERGAL HENNESSY,
MVB, MRCVS;
CLARE MEADE, MVB;
LIAM MORIARTY, MVB;
JAMES QUINN, MVB, MSc, MRCVS;
GERARD ROARTY, MVB, MSc, BL, BDentSc, BA,
On behalf of the Veterinary Working Group for Reform in Veterinary Education,
Kilfenora,
Co Clare.