Dublin: Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that 6,500 additional healthcare workers will be hired in Ireland next year, supported by funding allocated to the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Fianna Fáil candidate for Wicklow revealed in an FM radio interview that the government aims to expand the healthcare workforce significantly in the coming years, with an additional 25,000 positions anticipated after 2024.
Focus on Recruitment and Training
Minister Donnelly emphasised the government’s commitment to increasing the number of nurses, doctors, and therapists in the country. While the priority is to train and employ Irish healthcare professionals, the HSE currently relies heavily on international recruitment.
In 2023, Ireland had 29,573 registered physicians, with 43.4% being foreign nationals. Minister Donnelly highlighted the need for Ireland to bolster its capacity to train and retain healthcare professionals, noting that recent years have seen record recruitment levels.
Expanding Training Opportunities
To address workforce demands, the government plans to double the number of healthcare colleges in Ireland. Minister Donnelly stated that:
Current Numbers: There are currently 1,100 healthcare education institutions.
Future Goals: The government aims to increase this figure to 2,000 in the next term.
Efforts will also focus on ensuring a higher proportion of medical students come from EU countries. Although Ireland boasts the highest number of medical training places per capita among OECD countries, a significant majority of these positions are currently filled by non-EU students.
Ireland as a Destination for Healthcare Professionals
Minister Donnelly underscored Ireland’s strong reputation as a preferred destination for foreign healthcare workers, attributing this to competitive opportunities and the country’s commitment to building a robust and diverse healthcare workforce.
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