Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the background. I have the background and I welcome that. My concern is that there is slippage as regards this project. The ETB in Galway is the second biggest in the country. It is unique in that it covers the Gaeltacht area and the islands. It has 19 post-primary schools and two community national schools and a huge amount of buildings rented at an enormous cost in an unsustainable manner for adult education. We were therefore delighted when this was announced. A preliminary business case was submitted and the ETB did everything right in January 2024. Then it was told to come back again. It was told to reduce its 25,000 sq. m to 10,000 sq. m, inexplicably. Then it was asked to reduce it further and it stood up and said, "No. Our vision was for 25,000 sq. m and now you are making us do it at 10,000 sq. m." Now I am not sure where we are in that regard. I ask the Minister to give some clarity as to when this will be delivered and the reason for the reduction.

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