To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail any steps he will take to proactively encourage universities in Northern Ireland to develop a business case for a veterinary school.

I am conscious that responsibility for higher education provision rests with the Department for the Economy and that responsibility for workforce planning for the veterinary sector sits within the remit of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

However, as the NICS through my Department is a significant employer of veterinary professionals, we take a close interest in any steps that can help secure an ongoing supply to meet the needs of Northern Ireland, including any proposals for a veterinary school.

My Department engaged some time ago with the Strategic Investment Board on this issue and in 2022 it completed a situational analysis and baseline report to inform any future strategic business case for a veterinary school for Northern Ireland, which was subsequently published and is available on my Department’s website. That report recognised that further work to advance a business case was required and this work rests with the third level educational institutes.

I have also recently been able to hear directly from the Vice Chair of the Ulster University (UU) about that university’s ambitions and intentions in relation to a veterinary school.

If any of our third level educational institutes wish to take plans forward to progress a business case, my Department remains happy to engage on relevant aspects that are related to DAERA’s responsibilities.