Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Development Plan (NDP) published in 2021 provided clarity on Departmental capital ceilings for the period 2022 – 2025. A dedicated capital envelope was established for the Further Education and Training (FET) sector, amounting to €300m over the decade 2018-2027. Available funding has increased from €5.5 million in 2018 to €17.5 million in 2020 and a planned investment of €65.5 million in 2024.

Funding for FET capital works is distributed to the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) under a number of funding streams via established application processes, new programme calls announced in 2022 and through devolved funding programmes.

FET capital funding allocated to Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) in 2023 was made under the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF), the Devolved Capital Allocation which allows KCETB to address a range of small-scale projects at a local level and the Apprenticeship Fund with capital investment primarily for extensive equipment requirement for craft apprenticeships, to delivery off-the-job training in KCETB training centers. I wish to advise the Deputy that KCETB was allocated just over €2 million from the 2023 FET Capital Budget.

I can confirm for the Deputy that €435,000 will be available to KCETB under the 2024 Devolved Capital Allocation.

In addition, the Deputy will be aware that KCETB were one of ten ETBs whose application under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund was successful at the first stage of the assessment process. In line with Infrastructure Guidelines requirements they have now developed their proposal as part of the preliminary business case stage. Completed preliminary business cases, including that of KCETB, were submitted to SOLAS by the deadline of last Friday, the 12th of January. These business cases will shortly begin to be evaluated under criteria such as value for money, affordability and strategic policy and priority alignment, in line with the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines, and ETBs will be informed of the outcome of this evaluation process once it is completed.