Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail any steps his Department is taking to expand veterinary training opportunities.
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: My Department, through the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) delivers Veterinary Nursing education programmes at Level 2 and Level 3 to students who are working in veterinary practices. Approximately 25 and 20 new enrolment places respectively, are available each year.
Whilst DAERA as an employer has an interest in the supply of Veterinarians, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) retains ownership of issues such as workforce planning for the veterinary sector.
The Department remains committed, where requested, to discuss with and support third level educational institutes should they seek to progress veterinary related courses in NI. My Department contacted the Department for the Economy (DfE) in February 2025, who advised that if required they are happy to work closely with DAERA to provide support to the Universities to advance a business case for the establishment of a veterinary school in NI, however they also confirmed that it would not be for the DfE to take a decision on, or to fund, a veterinary school.
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