Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this matter. On Thursday, I am due to meet the new director in SOLAS of the further education and training, FET, college of the future. I may have a further update in which case I am very happy to revert to the Deputy post Thursday, but I will exchange what I have with her now.

As Deputy Connolly rightly said, Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board, ETB, GRETB, did superb work, which I acknowledge, in a very exciting plan for Galway city. It wants to establish a FET college adjacent to the training centre in Mervue and the Atlantic Technological University, ATU, and within walking distance of NUI Galway.

My understanding - I am going from my memory of my visit there last winter – is that this could see further education capacity in Galway increase by up to 40% and could also see a consolidation in terms of the service provision, which I understand is a little bit higgledy-piggledy at the moment and is spread around various buildings across the city.

Last year, I was pleased to announce that Galway Roscommon ETB's strategic proposal to develop a further education college in Galway city was successful under the FET college of the future major projects fund. The proposal is now at the next stage of the project under the public spending code. As the Deputy correctly said, that requires the development of a preliminary business case by Galway Roscommon ETB. My Department is working closely with SOLAS in developing a number of template documents and guidance material to support ETBs in successfully completing this stage of the process. In addition, we will hold a number of workshops to assist the successful ETBs with key aspects of the process. SOLAS will be in contact with the GRETB on these important next steps.

The next step is to get the provision of a business case over the line. My job and that of my Department and SOLAS is to make sure they all get over the line and that we help them by making sure they comply with the public spending code. I could detect when I was there talking to staff and management of the ETB that this is a very exciting project. We are fully committed to it as a Department, and I know SOLAS is too. We will work with the ETB. This year, 2023, we will get the business case over the line and in compliance with the public spending code. I will meet Avril Behan on Thursday and I am happy to revert to the Deputy further following that meeting.

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