Big step forward for college's plan to open Ireland's second vet school in Limerick

UNIVERSITY of Limerick (UL) has cleared a major hurdle in its plans to introduce a vet school.

The third-level college has been informed by government that its plans for a new school for veterinary surgeons were approved to go to preparing a full business case by government.

At present, University College Dublin is the only third-level institution to offer training for veterinary surgeons, who traditionally work to treat medical problems being experienced by animals.

This Wednesday, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has announced UL has been given the green light to proceed to the next stage of its application for a new school for these medics.

It comes after earlier in the year, UL was chosen by the Higher Education Authority to have a viable proposal to teach veterinary education, a course which is constantly oversubscribed with interest from students.

Mr Harris said: "This is a major day for the university and veterinary communities and for the people of Limerick and the Mid-West and real vote of confidence in their ability to expand educational provision in our region. This project will now proceed to the next phase which is the formulation of a full business case which will then be assessed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform."

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A business case is designed to give justification for undertaking a programme. It evaluates the benefit, cost and risk of alternative options, providing a rationale for the preferred solution.

Mr Harris acknowledged any vet school will not happen overnight, "but it is a significant moment to be celebrated."

Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne welcomed the news, saying: "Today is a brilliant day for the people of UL, Limerick and the Mid West."

"I am delighted to be working closely with my colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher education on our plans to develop this new school. We have campaigned long and hard for this and today we make real progress. I will continue to work with Simon Harris to make this project a reality," she concluded.

Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Niall Collins said Limerick students interested in becoming vets only had two choices at present - Dublin or Poland.

“Now they will be able to study in their own county. Farming is a huge economic activity in Co Limerick and the Mid-West. For years people involved in veterinary practices and farming have been lobbying me for a second or third veterinary school in Ireland. We need more vets - plain and simple.

“This decision by Government significantly advances the University of Limerick’s bid to establish a new veterinary school which I welcome," added the Fianna Fail TD.

Fellow Junior Minister Kieran O'Donnell also welcomed the news, saying: "I have always believed that UL is the ideal location for a new veterinary college, regionally based, in the heart of the Golden Vale and furthermore UL has a very successful track record in the setting up of a new faculty, as we have seen with the medical school. Critically, this will address the significant shortage of vets in practice, particularly in rural areas as well as the demand from Irish students to study veterinary in Ireland."

Elsewhere, UL's application for more nursing and graduate entry medicine places will now be considered as part of budgetary discussions.

And Technological University of the Shannon has also been deemed viable in its application for additional nursing places.