New veterinary medicine programme launched at Atlantic Technological University

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, today officially launched the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Veterinary Medicine Programme.

This marks 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, 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.

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Minister Lawless acknowledged the substantial progress achieved to date, paying tribute to those leading the initiative within ATU, including Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, Prof Patrick Pollock, Head of Department of Veterinary & Surgery, and Dr Joanne Gallagher, Dean of the Faculty of Science & 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.

"I want to acknowledge the support of Minister Martin Heydon and I want to commend Dr Orla Flynn, her senior management team, Prof 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."

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, said: "This programme is hugely significant for the agri-food sector. A strong and sustainable pipeline of veterinary graduates is vital for safeguarding animal health, maintaining farm productivity, and supporting Ireland’s global reputation for high-quality food. ATU’s new programme will help meet this national need while providing students with new opportunities and strengthening regional development in the West and Northwest."

CEO of the Higher Education Authority, Dr Alan Wall, added: "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, saying: "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 stakeholders who helped make this vision a reality."

Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue, says the new €41 million veterinary college that will be located Donegal ATU’s site at Knocknamona in Letterkenny will greatly enhance the future of veterinary care in the North-West.

Speaking at the launch of Donegal ATU’s Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery on Monday afternoon at the Letterkenny campus, the Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy said: “To see the project moving to this stage is excellent news. I extend my thanks to Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation Science, James Lawless, for making the trip to Letterkenny to officially launch of the Veterinary Medicine Programme. I also acknowledge the great work that has been done by Minister Lawless and his official, and by ATU President, Orla Flynn, and her team, in progressing this major project.”

“This represents 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 Donegal Minister of State added.

“This event marks a significant step forward for ATU, for the West and North-West, and for Ireland’s veterinary education system. ATU will welcome its first 40 veterinary medicine students in 2026, contributing to the national expansion of veterinary training capacity,” he commented.

Together with SETU, the VPAP will deliver 80 new veterinary places annually, beginning in 2026. This expansion strengthens Ireland’s domestic veterinary graduate pipeline and reduces reliance on overseas universities. ATU’s model—developing a full clinical training facility on campus—will ensure high-quality, modern clinical education and strong regional engagement. The programme supports national priorities in agri-food, public health, One Health, and workforce planning.

“This investment will bring new educational opportunities to the region, helping to retain talent locally and support economic and research development,” Minister McConalogue added.

The first cohort of 40 students is due to be enrolled at the new college in September 2026. The course is now available for application through the CAO. At full rollout, ATU and SETU together will provide 80 additional veterinary graduates per year, supporting the agri-food sector, public health, animal health services, and regional development.

ATU will develop a full on-campus clinical facility, giving students access to modern, high-quality veterinary teaching and clinical environments while strengthening the university’s regional role in health, animal science, and applied research.

ATU’s new programme underscores the 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 nine campuses and ten research centres.

ATU was established in April 2022 through the merger of GMIT, LYIT and IT Sligo 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.