Wed Sep 18 14:23:00 UTC 2024: ## New Veterinary Schools to Address Rural Vet Shortage in Ireland
**Kilkenny and Donegal/Galway to host state-of-the-art facilities to train future veterinary professionals.**
Two new veterinary schools will be established in Ireland, addressing a longstanding shortage of vets in rural areas, particularly for large animals. The new schools, located at South East Technological University (Setu) in Kilkenny, and Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Donegal and Galway campuses, were announced by Taoiseach Simon Harris at the National Ploughing Championships.
The move is aimed at keeping Irish students with veterinary aspirations from pursuing their studies abroad and ensuring a steady flow of qualified professionals to support the Irish agriculture sector. “This announcement is particularly important for farmers,” stated Harris, highlighting the difficulties faced by rural communities in accessing veterinary services.
Further Education Minister Patrick O’Donovan emphasized the importance of providing students with the opportunity to study veterinary medicine within an Irish context. “These new schools will help contribute directly to our agricultural, agri-food, and public health sectors,” he added.
Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, echoed the importance of addressing the challenges facing agriculture, stating that the new veterinary colleges will “provide the skilled professionals we need to support our rural communities and address the evolving challenges facing agriculture, from animal health to food safety and climate change.”
The announcement was met with enthusiasm by stakeholders in the agricultural sector, who have long highlighted the lack of access to qualified veterinary services in rural Ireland. With the establishment of these new schools, the government hopes to not only improve the availability of veterinary care, but also contribute to the long-term sustainability of Ireland’s agricultural sector.
First Piper 