The University of Galway has been awarded funding for a new School of Medicine building as part of €75 million in capital funding announced this week.
Minister James Lawless has announced the details of a new capital funding programme, under Project 2040, to expand healthcare education across Ireland.
The Healthcare Education Activation Programme (HEAP) will fund new buildings and refurbishment projects in higher education institutions
In Galway, the funding supports the building of the new School of Medicine building at University of Galway, as well as a new Masters in Pharmacy programme, which is in its first year, and a new Rural and Connected Health Graduate Entry Medicine degree, which is due to commence in September 2027.
The University’s new School of Medicine Building is to be built on the south campus, a short distance from the Quadrangle.
The new building development complements the expansion of healthcare courses at University of Galway. The first of which is the five-year MPharm, which commenced in September 2025 and will offer 75 student places at full roll-out.
Then there is the new Graduate Entry Medicine programme, which is due to begin in September 2027 to address critical medical workforce deficits, with 48 places available for students at full roll-out.
Professor David Burn, President of the University of Galway, said, “Government funding for University of Galway to expand healthcare education and state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities is a strong acknowledgement of the role which our institution plays both regionally and nationally.”
“I would like to thank Minister Lawless, the Department and the Higher Education Authority for the support. This investment in University of Galway ensures we are primed to play a critical role in the development of the next generation of healthcare specialists and leaders.”
The University secured planning approval for the development of the new School of Medicine Building last September.
The building design runs over four storeys, covering approximately 3,925sq metres, and is integrated, via a glazed atrium link, with the existing Block E building, a protected structure of historical and architectural significance.
It will offer state-of-the-art facilities for teaching and research, including tutorial, seminar and meeting rooms, study spaces and collaboration areas, advanced research laboratories and administration offices.
As part of the University’s broader sustainability goals, the design includes plant systems and solar PV panels to enhance energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Professor Laurence Egan, Head of the School of Medicine at the University of Galway, said that the new building, “Will not only transform how we teach and learn, but also strengthen the way we collaborate across disciplines and engage with our healthcare partners.”
“It will foster a model of medical education that champions innovation, teamwork, and a deep connection to the evolving healthcare needs of our region and beyond.”
