Thomas Lyons 
According to the University College Dublin (UCD) School of Veterinary Medicine, 65% of vets registered to practice in Ireland qualified in the country. The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) register currently has 3,330 vets, with 2,162 of them having qualified in Ireland and 1,126 having gained their qualification outside of the country. Last year, 302 new veterinary practitioners joined the register, with 80 of them graduating from UCD, which is currently the only school of veterinary medicine on the island of Ireland. The remaining 222 qualified outside of Ireland, with 66 (22%) being Irish and 156 (52%) being international registrants not educated in Ireland. It is worth noting that not all of the vets who recently joined the VCI register are new graduates, with many coming to work in Ireland or returning to the country later in their career.
The UCD School of Veterinary Medicine currently has over 660 veterinary medicine students and more than 150 veterinary nursing students registered across its three undergraduate programmes. In September 2022, over 190 students began their studies in the school, and the programmes generally produce a similar number of graduates on an annual basis. UCD said that it has “fully engaged” with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to respond to a national skills shortage in the veterinary profession.
The HEA recently concluded its review of applications from third-level institutions offering to expand or create new courses in veterinary medicine in Ireland. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, is currently considering the authority’s recommendations. The options available include expanding the current course at UCD, creating a new facility, or doing both. The University of Limerick (UL), Munster Technological University (MTU), Atlantic Technological University (ATU), and South East Technological University (SETU) have also submitted applications. New programme proposals were reviewed by an expert advisory panel, including representatives from the VCI and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
The veterinary profession in Ireland is facing a skills shortage, with a lack of vets in some areas, particularly in rural regions. The HEA’s review of applications from third-level institutions offering to expand or create new courses in veterinary medicine in Ireland is a response to this shortage. The review was carried out to determine the best options to address the shortage, including expanding the current course at UCD, creating a new facility, or doing both.
The shortage of vets is a growing concern for farmers and pet owners alike, as it can lead to delays in animal treatment and care. The lack of vets in rural areas is particularly problematic, as it can result in longer travel times for vets and higher costs for farmers and pet owners. The creation of new facilities and expansion of current courses in veterinary medicine in Ireland could help to address this shortage and ensure that animals receive the care they need in a timely manner.
In conclusion, the veterinary profession in Ireland is facing a skills shortage, with a lack of vets in some areas, particularly in rural regions. The HEA’s review of applications from third-level institutions offering to expand or create new courses in veterinary medicine in Ireland is a response to this shortage. The review was carried out to determine the best options to address the shortage, including expanding the current course at UCD, creating a new facility, or doing both. The shortage of vets is a growing concern for farmers and pet owners alike, as it can lead to delays in animal treatment and care. The creation of new facilities and expansion of current courses in veterinary medicine in Ireland could help to address this shortage and ensure that animals receive the care they need in a timely manner.
