Irish minister launches new veterinary medicine programme at Atlantic Technological University
Irish Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has officially launched the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Veterinary Medicine Programme.
It is a major milestone in the rollout of the government’s Veterinary Places Activation Programme (VPAP) and Ireland’s continued expansion of veterinary education which is also supported by Minister Martin Heydon and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The launch event, hosted at ATU’s Letterkenny campus in Donegal, brought together senior university leadership, faculty, and regional stakeholders, including representatives from local and cross-border education bodies, veterinary practices, county councils, Senators, and TDs.
Minister Lawless acknowledged the substantial progress achieved to date, paying tribute to those leading the initiative within ATU, including Dr Orla Flynn, president, Professor Patrick Pollock, Head of Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, and Dr Joanne Gallagher, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Health, as well as the wider senior management team and academic staff across Health Sciences.
Speaking at the launch, Minister James Lawless said: “The establishment of the ATU Veterinary Medicine Programme marks a transformative milestone in our national strategy to expand veterinary education. It offers students across the west and northwest the chance to pursue a world-class veterinary qualification closer to home, helping us keep talent in the region, create new opportunities, and build a strong pipeline of skilled professionals who will underpin our education, public health, and agri-food sectors for years to come.”
He continued: “I want to acknowledge the support of Minister Martin Heydon and I want to commend Dr Orla Flynn, her senior management team, Professor Patrick Pollock, Dr Joanne Gallagher, and the entire academic and professional staff for their vision and leadership in bringing this programme to life. Their work ensures ATU will deliver an innovative, high-quality model of veterinary education that serves learners, strengthens communities, and drives regional growth while anchoring expertise and opportunity in the West and Northwest for decades to come.”
CEO of the Higher Education Authority, Dr Alan Wall, said: “Today’s launch reflects rapid and collaborative progress across the higher education system to expand capacity in key healthcare and veterinary fields. ATU’s development of new veterinary provision demonstrates a commitment to the One Health approach – recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health – and reinforces Ireland’s long-term strategy for education, research and workforce sustainability.”
President of ATU, Dr Orla Flynn, welcomed the launch, said: “ATU’s new veterinary school will not only expand access to veterinary education but also ensure that rural communities have the skilled professionals they need.
“We are proud to lead this initiative and grateful for the support of Minister Lawless and all the stakeholders who helped make this vision a reality.”
The programme forms a core component of the Veterinary Places Activation Programme (VPAP), which will support the creation of 80 new veterinary student places annually from 2026, through new schools at both ATU and the South East Technological University (SETU).
ATU will deliver a full clinical facility on campus, while SETU will implement a distributed training model through a regional clinical network. Both institutions are preparing to welcome their first intake of 40 students each in September 2026.
ATU’s new programme underscores the Irish government’s commitment to strengthening regional education, expanding healthcare and veterinary capacity, and reducing reliance on overseas training.
It also aligns with ATU’s mission as one of Ireland’s newest and largest technological universities – serving diverse learners, supporting industry needs, and delivering innovation across its nine campuses.
ATU was established in April 2022 through the merger of GMIT, LYIT and IT Sligo, with the subsequent integration of St Angela’s College in 2023, and is now one of Ireland’s largest multi-campus universities with over 30,000 students and more than 600 programmes across nine campuses.
The establishment of a Veterinary Medicine programme represents a significant strategic development for the university, the region, and Ireland’s growing veterinary education capacity.