THE DEPARTMENT OF Higher Education is considering a loan scheme for healthcare students that would see their debts written off if they choose to stay working in Ireland after graduation.

Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless defended the proposal on The Claire Byrne Show on Newstalk this morning.

This proposal could see students either given a bursary or a loan to cover most of this cost that would be “conditional upon service to the state, when you qualify”, for “a number of years”.

This proposal focuses on those looking to enter Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) courses.

Though the fees for undergraduate degrees in Ireland are subsidised by the State, the cost of GEM courses can see students paying between €15,000 and €20,000 a year over four years.

Lawless said he felt that, although students emigrating after graduation is “normal” and “positive”, there are nevertheless “a lot of those people will like the opportunity to stay in Ireland”. 

The minister says he doesn’t “want to put a break on anyone” who wishes to emigrate post-graduation but “it’s incumbent on us to put some kind of incentive in place to say” and to ask “are there other things we can do to encourage people to stay?”.

Students are currently paying between €15,000 and €20,000 a year for these courses Rolling News Rolling News

When asked if this proposal would essentially hold lower income students hostage in Ireland while those who can afford the fees with no loan would be free to move abroad, the minister said “it’s not easy for any family”.

“Of course, the higher up you go, you know, the more accessible it may be. But the difficulty at the moment is lower income students are not pursuing graduate entry medicine, full stop.”

The minister said GEM is currently the focus of their proposal but they “may look through all the sectors other areas”. 

Lawless was also asked about the promised reduction in undergraduate fees, which currently see students paying roughly €2,500 per year of their degree. 

He responded: “I will attempt to honour every promise that I’ve made, and, more importantly, every promise in the program for government.”