Potential additional nursing places for ATU Mayo
ADDITIONAL general nursing places could be coming to Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Mayo.
ATU president Dr. Orla Flynn has welcomed confirmation by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue that a number of options to expand third-level places for healthcare and veterinary medicine are being considered.
The options include potential for a new programme of veterinary medicine to be delivered from ATU Donegal in conjunction with ATU Mountbellew, a potential new pharmacy programme in ATU Sligo, and additional general nursing places in ATU Mayo, ATU Donegal and St. Angela’s College Sligo, pending government funding.
The potential additional general nursing places would represent a significant expansion of current programme provision to address the shortfall in the number of qualified graduates in the nursing profession. These places could become available for the academic year 2024/5, pending government funding.
The news follows options outlined in a new DFHERIS-commissioned Higher Education Authority (HEA) report which states a significant expansion in healthcare and veterinary medicine training would result in an increase of an estimated 5,000 new third-level enrolments across veterinary, pharmacy, dentistry, medicine and nursing.
Commented Dr. Flynn: “I am naturally delighted with today’s news - it is a strong signal of confidence in ATU’s capability and capacity to deliver these programmes. Our ability to respond to this call as one university has led to this success - we now need to make sure that we deliver on this potential for our region.”
Dr. Justin Kerr, head of ATU Galway-Mayo School of Health Science, Wellbeing & Society and vice-president ATU Mayo, said: “This is a welcome development for the region. The potential increase in general nursing places will have a significant impact in retaining nursing graduates across Donegal, Sligo and Mayo.
“This would be an important step forward as ATU continues to work with our partners in healthcare across the west and northwest.”