Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to welcome the good news that Limerick Institute of Technology was granted its requested planning permission this morning. The new €14 million development at Coonagh Cross will be great, not only for the students and teachers, but also for the greater Limerick area. This comes on top of the good news that the Department of Education and Skills announced during the week that €578,227 would be put towards electrical apprenticeships. It is great to see, not only the expansion of LIT, but also that the college has expanded into another part of Limerick city. A knock-on effect will be the creation of 134 construction jobs in the development of the building and a further 100 jobs upon its completion. This is to be welcomed. As we can see from announcements like this one, the Department is investing in education.