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The Irish government is set to fund university places for Republic of Ireland students to study health subjects in Northern Ireland.

In a statement, the Irish health minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed that approximately 160 third-level places will be made available in Ulster University at a cost of €9.5m (£8m).

Places will be for students from the Republic who want to study nursing or a range of other subjects including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, speech and language and radiotherapy.

The approximate number of students for each course include:

Funding will also be made available for 18 places for students resident in Northern Ireland for intake in February 2025 at Queen’s University Belfast.

It is the second time the Irish Department of Health has funded student places in Northern Ireland universities.

Previously, students who took up the places paid the same student contribution rate as their counterparts studying in medical schools in the Republic of Ireland and learners committed to applying to take up a position in the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) as an intern at the end of their studies.

Earlier in the year 50 additional medical student places were funded to study at Queen's University Belfast.

The Irish Department of Health worked alongside its counterpart in Stormont to deliver the initiative.

Minister Donnelly said: “I very much welcome the provision of additional training places in Nursing and Midwifery and Health and Social Care Professions for the academic year 2024/2025.

"Increasing the future supply of health care workers is critical to addressing the workforce needs for our health service. This will build future workforce capacity to meet demand for health services.”

Ulster University has been approached for comment.