Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this question. The Deputy will be aware that Cavan Monaghan ETB have been working with and supported by SOLAS in developing their preliminary business case proposal for Cavan Town under the College of the Future Major Projects fund for the last number of months. The development of a robust Preliminary Business Case (PBC) is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines (Formerly known as the Public Spending Code guidelines).

Completed preliminary business cases including that of Cavan Monaghan ETB 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. At this stage of the project lifecycle it is not possible to give a timeframe for the development of a College of the Future for Cavan Institute.

However, to address interim accommodation needs, I approved the acquisition and fit out of a substantial modular unit for CMETB, facilitating the opening of the new Education and Training Facility for Cavan Institute at its FET Campus last September. This facility gives 300 students access to a range of PLC programmes and allows for the further growth of Cavan Institute.

My officials and SOLAS will continue to work closely with Cavan Monaghan ETB to ensure that the appropriate infrastructures are in place to meet the needs of their learners and staff.