Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, officially launched the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Veterinary Medicine Programme, a key initiative under the Government’s Veterinary Places Activation Programme (VPAP). The launch, supported by Minister Martin Heydon and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, marks a major milestone in expanding veterinary education in Ireland and aims to strengthen regional capacity in the West and Northwest. The event brought together university leadership, faculty, and regional stakeholders, highlighting collaborative efforts across education, public health, and the agri-food sectors.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Lawless emphasized that the programme offers students a world-class veterinary qualification closer to home, helping retain talent in the region, create new opportunities, and build a skilled workforce to support Ireland’s education, public health, and agricultural sectors. He praised the leadership of ATU’s President Dr Orla Flynn, Prof Patrick Pollock, Dr Joanne Gallagher, and the wider academic team for delivering an innovative and high-quality veterinary education model that will serve learners and communities while driving regional growth.
Minister Martin Heydon highlighted the programme’s significance for the agri-food sector, noting that a sustainable pipeline of veterinary graduates is essential for animal health, farm productivity, and maintaining Ireland’s reputation for high-quality food. Dr Alan Wall, CEO of the Higher Education Authority, added that the programme reflects collaborative progress in higher education and embodies the One Health approach, connecting human, animal, and environmental health while supporting long-term workforce sustainability.
President Dr Orla Flynn welcomed the launch, emphasizing that the new veterinary school will expand access to education and ensure rural communities have the skilled professionals they need. The ATU Veterinary Medicine Programme is part of VPAP, which will create 80 new veterinary student places annually from 2026 through ATU and South East Technological University (SETU). ATU will host a full clinical facility on campus, while SETU will implement a regional clinical training network, with both institutions planning to welcome 40 students each in September 2026.
The programme reinforces the Government’s commitment to regional education, healthcare, and veterinary capacity, reducing reliance on overseas training. It aligns with ATU’s mission as one of Ireland’s largest technological universities, which, since its establishment in 2022 through the merger of GMIT, LYIT, and IT Sligo, serves over 30,000 students across nine campuses and ten research centres. The new veterinary school represents a strategic development for the university, the region, and Ireland’s growing veterinary education infrastructure.
The Veterinary Places Activation Programme, announced in September 2024, forms part of wider government investments in healthcare and veterinary education, including the Short-Term Capital Activation Programme. The programme complements existing veterinary provision at UCD and demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to expanding domestic veterinary education while progressing toward welcoming the first cohort of students in 2026.
