Minister Lawless unveils €75m capital programme under Project Ireland 2040 for healthcare education and training capacity expansion
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From: Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Published on: 24 February 2026
- Last updated on: 24 February 2026
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, today announced a new €75million capital funding programme, under Project 2040, to expand healthcare education across Ireland.
The Healthcare Education Activation Programme (HEAP) will fund new buildings and refurbishment projects in higher education institutions to:
- Introduce new healthcare programmes
- Increase places on existing courses
- Address national workforce shortages in key healthcare disciplines
The programme is funded through the National Training Fund under the National Development Plan. It supports investment in training that improves skills, promotes employment and strengthens the Irish economy.
New programmes, identified through a process led by the Higher Education Authority, will be supported with capital funding under this Programme.
Speaking today, Minister Lawless said:
“This announcement marks a significant step forward in enabling the enhancement of healthcare education and training capacity and strengthening Ireland’s ability to meet the future demand for skilled professionals in the healthcare sector.”
Minister Lawless also announced a key milestone for the following successful projects, which have secured approval in principle under the Programme:
- Two projects at University of Galway – a Medical School and the launch of a Pharmacy Programme. The proposed new medical school runs over four storeys, and is integrated, via a glazed atrium link, with the existing Block E building. The proposed Rural and Remote Graduate Entry Medicine Stream programme at the University of Galway is aimed at addressing the shortage of general practitioners in rural Ireland. At full roll-out this programme will provide 48 additional medicine places per year.
- A capital project at South East Technological University (SETU) to support a new pharmacy programme. The proposed new facility includes provision for both pharmacy and veterinary programmes. This combined Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy building will be one of the first buildings on the Glassworks Campus (Waterford Crystal) and will include the provision of undergraduate teaching spaces and laboratories, and staff accommodation supported by social and innovation flexible space along with ancillary and plant space.
- Approval in principle has also been given to the repurposing of existing space on the Sligo campus of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) to support its Pharmacy Programme.
The programme includes an initial activation phase that has supported the launch of a new Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Once fully established, this will provide up to 35 extra dentistry places each year. It also expands education and training capacity across the Health and Social Care Professions (HSCP) sector.
A total of €6.6 million in funding is being invested to create 461 additional training places across nine HSCP professions.
These places span programmes in physiotherapy, dietetics, radiation therapy, radiography, podiatry, occupational therapy, speech and language, social work and social care, delivered across nine higher education institutions.
Work is also progressing on the development of a preliminary business case for a Direct Entry Medicine programme at the University of Limerick.
Minister Lawless added:
“Today’s approval marks a significant milestone in our commitment to expanding healthcare education and training capacity in Ireland. The Healthcare Education Activation Programme is a strategic investment that will increase training places in key healthcare disciplines, increase access to education and training opportunities, support regional development, and form part of a wider Government commitment to strengthening Ireland’s healthcare workforce and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system.
"I want to commend the Higher Education Authority and the relevant institutions for their strong commitment to delivering on what is a key national priority. Further work is ongoing to identify further places in healthcare. This programme provides scope for further projects as the needs are identified and approved”.
CEO of the HEA, Dr Alan Wall said:
“We welcome today’s announcement of the Healthcare Education Activation Programme, a significant investment that builds on the process undertaken by the Higher Education Authority with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to unlock potential opportunities to address the national need for additional student places in key healthcare disciplines. This capital funding will enable the expansion of existing capacities and the development of new programmes, strengthening the infrastructure required to train a skilled healthcare workforce. This investment will also enhance education and training opportunities, support high quality education and ensure HEIs are equipped to meet the growing demand for places in these critical skill areas.”