80 new veterinary student places opening from 2026 welcomed by Tipperary TD

Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry has welcomed the news that the Capital Programme supporting the Veterinary Places Activation Programme will establish two much-needed new Veterinary Schools at South East Technological University and Atlantic Technological University.

“This approval marks a significant milestone in the expansion of Ireland’s veterinary education capacity and will facilitate the creation of 80 additional student places annually from 2026,” said Deputy Lowry, adding that he has consistently raised the need for wider and greater provision of accessible educational facilities for those wishing to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

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This announcement marks a significant step forward in expanding Ireland’s veterinary education footprint and addressing the national need for skilled veterinary professionals.

“This Capital Programme approval provides the opportunity for a design team to be appointed and to develop building designs up to Planning stage,” he added.

The VPAP forms part of a wider Government investment in Healthcare and Veterinary Education.

The programme is being jointly supported by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

For the first time, a professional Veterinary Medicine programme will be available in the South East, positioning SETU to play a pivotal role in retaining regional talent, addressing critical workforce shortages and ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled professionals to serve Ireland’s agriculture, equine and companion animal sectors.

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At full roll-out, the new veterinary schools will deliver an additional 80 veterinary graduates per year, directly supporting the agri-food sector and public health systems.

Both institutions are committed to welcoming their first intake of 40 students in September 2026, with Year 1 delivered in classroom-based settings ahead of the completion of new facilities.

The two schools will adopt distinct models of delivery, with SETU implementing an innovative distributed model using a network of Regionally-based clinical training facilities, and ATU developing a full clinical facility for on-campus training.