Some 321 new vets and 126 new veterinary nurses joined the Veterinary Council of Ireland's (VCI) register in 2023.
New vet registration, according to VCI, is up 6% when compared to 2022.
The total number of vets and veterinary nurses on the council's register currently stands at 3,522 and 1,263 respectively, which is an all-time high.
Of the 321 newly registered vets in 2023, 85 were awarded their Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from UCD.
The remaining vets graduated from a number of schools of Veterinary Medicine abroad, with the most popular being Warsaw Agricultural University (which accounted for 29 newly registered vets) and Budapest University of Veterinary Science (which accounted for 18 vets).
The counties which accounted for the most new vets in 2023 were:
Cork – 21 newly registered vets in 2023Dublin – 20 newly registered vets in 2023Kildare – 16 newly registered vets in 2023Galway – 11 newly registered vets in 2023Donegal – 10 newly registered vets in 2023Tipperary – 10 newly registered vets in 2023Wexford – 8 newly registered vets in 2023Mayo – 6 newly registered vets in 2023Kerry – 6 newly registered vets in 2023Cavan – 5 newly registered vets in 2023Clare – 5 newly registered vets in 2023Derry – 2 newly registered vets in 2023Down – 2 newly registered vets in 2023Tyrone – 2 newly registered vets in 2023Antrim – 1 newly registered vet in 2023Working group
Cognisant of veterinary recruitment and retention challenges, the Veterinary Council has established a Workforce Review Working Group, which will analyse the register data and publish a report.
This report, the VCI said, will contain recommendations on the factors impacting recruitment and retention of vets and veterinary nurses on registers.
Niamh Muldoon, CEO and registrar of VCI said that the council believes the influx of vets in 2023 will help to meet growing demand for veterinary services across Ireland.
"We recognise that veterinary recruitment and retention is a challenge in many areas across the country, in Ireland and abroad. Our Workforce Review Working Group will examine these challenges closely and develop recommendations to address these challenges," she said.
New vet school
The Government and Higher Education Authority are considering proposals for additional capacity in veterinary places in third level institutions.
However, what college this additional capacity will be made at is yet to be decided on.
Some 321 new vets and 126 new veterinary nurses joined the Veterinary Council of Ireland's (VCI) register in 2023.
New vet registration, according to VCI, is up 6% when compared to 2022.
The total number of vets and veterinary nurses on the council's register currently stands at 3,522 and 1,263 respectively, which is an all-time high.
Of the 321 newly registered vets in 2023, 85 were awarded their Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from UCD.
The remaining vets graduated from a number of schools of Veterinary Medicine abroad, with the most popular being Warsaw Agricultural University (which accounted for 29 newly registered vets) and Budapest University of Veterinary Science (which accounted for 18 vets).
The counties which accounted for the most new vets in 2023 were:
Cork – 21 newly registered vets in 2023Dublin – 20 newly registered vets in 2023Kildare – 16 newly registered vets in 2023Galway – 11 newly registered vets in 2023Donegal – 10 newly registered vets in 2023Tipperary – 10 newly registered vets in 2023Wexford – 8 newly registered vets in 2023Mayo – 6 newly registered vets in 2023Kerry – 6 newly registered vets in 2023Cavan – 5 newly registered vets in 2023Clare – 5 newly registered vets in 2023Derry – 2 newly registered vets in 2023Down – 2 newly registered vets in 2023Tyrone – 2 newly registered vets in 2023Antrim – 1 newly registered vet in 2023Working group
Cognisant of veterinary recruitment and retention challenges, the Veterinary Council has established a Workforce Review Working Group, which will analyse the register data and publish a report.
This report, the VCI said, will contain recommendations on the factors impacting recruitment and retention of vets and veterinary nurses on registers.
Niamh Muldoon, CEO and registrar of VCI said that the council believes the influx of vets in 2023 will help to meet growing demand for veterinary services across Ireland.
"We recognise that veterinary recruitment and retention is a challenge in many areas across the country, in Ireland and abroad. Our Workforce Review Working Group will examine these challenges closely and develop recommendations to address these challenges," she said.
New vet school
The Government and Higher Education Authority are considering proposals for additional capacity in veterinary places in third level institutions.
However, what college this additional capacity will be made at is yet to be decided on.
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