Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and appreciate his very comprehensive reply. I have to make the comment and observation that modular units are a temporary measure. We can all acknowledge that. They just will not cut it in leaving Cavan Institute on a building list any longer. The modular units will house music, beauty therapy, make-up artistry, science, information technology, IT, sports, leisure, sports therapy programmes and many of the practical subjects. Urgency for a permanent building is what is required here. The 2006 building was built for a capacity of 420 students; Cavan Institute is now at 1,100 and growing year-on-year.

I have to acknowledge the principal of Cavan Institute, Ann Marie Lacey, who, in her distinguished principalship, has been a huge driving force for her students, staff and the parents of students who attend the college. We see terrific work currently under way by John Kearney, the chief executive of Cavan Institute, in the delivery of ETB schools right across the county and constituency. He needs this exact type of investment and commitment to be able to deliver what is needed for Cavan Institute.

Will the Minister of State commit to visiting Cavan Institute? I am a big believer in "seeing is believing" and while it is wonderful we have that 18-acre site at the Army barracks, we need to develop it into a top-class facility, which is nothing less than Cavan Institute, and its staff and students, deserve. The staff are providing wraparound services for student support and that, again, is a disjointed operation in the sense they are in different buildings around the town. That cannot continue. It can only be imagined how that college could flourish if it had the right infrastructure. I ask the Minister of State to commit to visiting Cavan Institute and to examine the issue of any further modular buildings because they will just not cut it. Cavan Institute needs its new building.

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