Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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11. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Question No. 75 of 25 June 2024, the status of the proposed new further education college in Galway city; if the preliminary business case has now been completed; if the evaluation by SOLAS and the Department has been completed; if the project has now moved to the pre-tender stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40034/24]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Next month marks two years since the wonderful announcement of the go-ahead for a proposed new further education college in Galway city. After the announcement, we moved on to the preliminary business case. We all welcomed the announcement. It related to a college for the future, a campus and lifelong learning. My specific question is on the status of the proposed new further education college in Galway city. Has the preliminary business case been completed? Has the evaluation by SOLAS and the Department been completed? Will the project now move on to the pre-tender stage?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that Galway and Roscommon ETB is being supported by SOLAS in developing its preliminary business case proposal under the FET college of the future major projects fund. The development of a robust preliminary business case is fundamental to the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines. The proposal put forward by Galway and Roscommon ETB is one of 12 projects that are currently being progressed under the fund.

As the Deputy is aware, the Galway and Roscommon ETB proposal relates to the development of a new state-of-the-art FET campus on a site adjacent to its Mervue training facility. This proposed new development would facilitate the strengthening of FET provision in Galway city and the wider region due to its close proximity to the training centre in Mervue, the Atlantic Technological University and the University of Galway.

SOLAS and officials from my Department met representatives of all 12 ETBs, including Galway and Roscommon ETB, in April and May of this year to discuss their proposals in the context of affordability, value for money and relevant regional and national FET policy objectives. ETBs were asked to refine their business case proposals to ensure they will deliver on priority infrastructure requirements that will meet the needs of their current and future learners and staff.

Galway and Roscommon ETB is currently working on its business case proposal and will have the opportunity to submit it at the next evaluation meeting, which is targeted for January 2025. Following evaluation, business cases that meet the evaluation criteria will advance to the next stage of development: pre-tender – project design, planning, and procurement strategy.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for the update. The news was great, but it was announced almost two years ago. Progress has slowed down a little, which is a concern. The project of Galway and Roscommon ETB, which used to be the vocational education committee, on which I sat, has been in planning for a very long time. Although we welcomed the announcement almost two years ago, it was after 20 years of frustration.

With regard to the announcement of €430 million for four different sectors, one allocation was for ongoing adult learning or further education and training for adults. Is there a breakdown for the fund somewhere? After the meeting next January, will we go straight to the pre-tender stage? Could the Minister of State give me a little more information on that, please?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I will ask the Department to revert to the Deputy with the breakdown she has asked for.

On the engagement that has taken place with ETBs to support them in developing their preliminary business cases, SOLAS and the Department met representatives of all 12 ETBs over a two-week period in April and May of this year to further discuss their proposals in the context of affordability, value for money and the relevant regional and national FET policy objectives. As part of this engagement, they were asked to refine their business cases to ensure they would deliver on priority infrastructure. SOLAS also issued specific feedback to each ETB to assist them in completing this work. ETBs were given until 2 September 2024 to submit their refined business cases, and ETBs were also told that if they required additional time to submit their proposals, they would have the opportunity to submit them at the next full evaluation meeting, which is targeted for 2025.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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What is the date for submitting the revised business plans?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The ETBs were given until 2 September to submit their refined business plans.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Is the Minister of State aware of whether Galway and Roscommon ETB has submitted its business case?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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According to my information, a total of seven ETBs submitted their refined business plans by 2 September 2024. Submissions were received from Cork ETB, Cavan and Monaghan ETB, Kilkenny and Carlow ETB, Kildare and Wicklow ETB-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Given the time allowed, I am sure I will be forgiven for being parochial. Did Galway and Roscommon ETB make its submission?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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No. Its submission was not in on time. The five ETBs that did not submit business cases for evaluation are expected to do so by the next full sitting of the evaluation panel, in January 2025, and they will be considered.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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They will be considered at the point.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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So they will not be at a disadvantage.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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No.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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And the robustness of all the business cases will be considered afresh. Will the Minister of State indicate the timeline? What will happen at the pre-tender and design stage?

What time is envisaged for that?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Connolly asked what the next steps are when the business case is submitted. Following the evaluation process, the ETBs which have met the required standard will move to the next stage of development and progress to the pre-tender, project design, planning and procurement strategy phase. For projects that do not meet the required standard, our Department will write to SOLAS to confirm the recommendation that the business cases require refinement or further development before they can move to be approved to move to the next stage of development. These projects will be re-evaluated by the evaluation panel as soon as possible. I am not able to give the Deputy an exact timeline, to be honest. If they do not make it on the first pull, they will have an opportunity to make it on the second.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Will the Minister of State send me the breakdown of the profile?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.