It’s twins! Not one, but two new Vet Colleges set to open

Fine Gael Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD today announced the location of two new veterinary colleges while he attended the National Ploughing Championships in Laois. 

Two successful bids, one in SETU Kilkenny and one in ATU, at their Donegal and Galway campuses have been approved by the Higher Education Authority to proceed, with the first intake of students expected next year. 

By boosting the number of Irish graduates coming out of university here, at a rate of 80 graduates per year, it is anticipated that a fresh stream of young vets will enter service and gain experience from the many established and vastly experienced vets around the country.  

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said: “I am delighted that we can reveal the location of two new vet colleges that will be located at South East Technological University (SETU) in Kilkenny, and Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Donegal and Galway campuses. 

“This announcement marks a major milestone that will lead to the increase in supply of veterinary professionals in this country and will also support the agricultural and agri-food sectors. 

“I also know how important this announcement is to farmers. I travelled the length and breadth of the country since becoming Fine Gael leader and prioritised listening to farmers and the need for additional vet colleges was constantly raised with me. 

“I’m committed to supporting farmers in any way possible and I know these new vet colleges will support our rural communities and will address shortages of vets and regional Ireland. 

“The new colleges will also mean we retain many of our brightest students in this country with additional capacity to pursue veterinary studies here in Ireland without having to seek their education abroad. 

“This is something I really championed when I was Minister for Further and Higher Education, and I’m delighted that Minister O’Donovan has brought forward these proposals today. 

“This is good for education, good for rural Ireland and good for agriculture,” An Taoiseach concluded. 

Minister Patrick O’Donovan said: “The institutional knowledge sharing between generations of vets and the value that this shared commitment to animal health brings to the nation is huge. 

“We know that there are large numbers of Irish students who are passionate about becoming vets, and they leave to pursue their studies abroad. 

“Increasing the capacity of the Irish third-level sector to educate Irish students at home makes sense, and by regionalising the locations of their studies, we anticipate significant interest and enthusiasm for these courses when they launch in the North West and in the South East. 

“When fully operational, we expect to get 80 new veterinary medicine graduates per year, with the first tranche of students beginning their studies next Autumn. 

“There has only been one place to study veterinary medicine in Ireland since the 1970s – in UCD – these new study locations will revolutionise our offering in that space and deliver a shot in the arm of rural farming communities,” Minister O’Donovan concluded.