Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I again thank Deputy Farrell for raising the issue. My message to the DDLETB in the context of Swords, and my message to all ETBs, is that we have a very significant pot of funding to invest in FET colleges of the future, to expand provision and to upgrade facilities for exactly the reasons the Deputy outlines, including the need to make sure we have the skills we require in this country to meet some of the massive challenges we face in particular in the area Deputy Farrell has responsibility for in my party in terms of the climate agenda, retrofitting, the green economy but also regarding Housing for All and making sure we can meet our housing targets and upskill and reskill people. There are so many opportunities in that regard.

This will be an opportunity for all the ETBs, including Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB, to put forward their proposals. I note with interest and excitement the fact a lot of work has already been done in Fingal in regard to how they will deliver this, with Swords as the hub and with spokes out across other parts of the county.

I want to take the opportunity to thank everybody involved in DDLETB for their work and thank everybody involved in adult education in the Deputy's constituency for the work they have done. It has been a very challenging number of years with the Covid pandemic, to put it mildly, but really good work is being done. I am delighted to say there are 152 courses planned in 2022, offering 1,396 places in Swords in further education and training, which is a 28% increase on 2019, which is probably the last comparable year before the Covid pandemic. Of course, delivery methods include part-time, full-time, online, blended and a range of unaccredited provisions and accredited provisions up to level 5. There is a new vocational training opportunity course to be delivered in the area in 2022 and there is also specialist provision for early school leavers in Swords Youthreach Centre, where there are adult literacy and back to education programmes. A lot of very good work is being done in Swords in this area. I look forward to the discussions we will have about how we can do more and future-proof that offering.

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