Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I look forward to visiting Galway with the Senator next week. I should also acknowledge, as I know the Senator would, the work of Councillor Michael Mogie Maher, who now chairs GRETB and who is enthusiastic about these levels of investment. It is an exciting time for further education and training around the country. We have moved from a situation in which further education and training colleges were applying for money to fix leaky roofs or broken toilets to one in which there is investment at a scale that allows us to progress really transformational projects and move what we know to be an excellent education sector out of old, dilapidated buildings and into modern fit-for-purpose facilities. I compliment and thank everyone in GRETB for the great amount of work they put into this application.

It is also a particularly exciting time for Galway from a third level education point of view. There is the traditional university, now known as the University of Galway. Some great work is being done there and a very significant amount of student accommodation is coming on stream, which I really welcome. I want to work with the university to develop even more. There is also the technological university, the ATU. If this project progresses, there will also be a state-of-the-art further education sector, really knitting together all aspects of third level education in the city and county of Galway. I very much look forward to being with the Senator next week and to trying to make progress on this.