Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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36. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his priorities for Kerry in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9012/24]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for this important question.

With respect to Higher Education, my Department has formally established the Munster Technological University (MTU) which has a campus in Tralee, (formerly Institute of Technology Tralee), serving County Kerry. Previously, County Kerry had lacked a university presence of its own, being instead traditionally served by higher education institutions such as the IT Tralee or University College Cork. However, with the creation of MTU on 1st January 2021, my Department has ensured that the region's access to higher educational been significantly improved.

MTU’s Tralee Campus offers a wide range of courses between Level 6 and Level 10, as well as offering apprenticeship Certificates of Attendance via SOLAS for Agricultural Mechanics, Carpentry and Joinery, Electrical, and a Chef de Partie apprenticeship.

In 2023, my Department introduced the new tertiary degree programmes, which will see students begin their degree in a Further Education institution, and then progress to complete it in a Higher Education institution. This transition from Further Education to Higher Education will be completely seamless, through the development of shared curriculum, teaching collaboration, programme co-design and co-delivery within a shared space and shared student experience. Two of these programmes were offered in Kerry in 2023 as part of the first-ever tranche of tertiary programmes – a Bachelor of Business and a BA in Animation, Visual Effects and Motion Design. This year two additional programmes are being added, in General Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing.

The advancement of Further Education and Training (FET) in Kerry continues to be a priority for the Department. Regarding FET, there are a number of key strategic priorities for Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB). The implementation of the FET College of the Future continues, with ongoing harmonisation of programme management and provision structures. Kerry ETB also plans to synergise quality assurance processes across FET programmes. In terms of curriculum development, Kerry ETB plans to further the development of full time technical English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses and a NFQ Level 6 Commercial Scuba Diving course.

Regarding the Capital investment, the following projects are currently in train at KETB FET facilities:

1.1 Emergency Health & Safety Works (EHSW)

·Kerry College of Further Education

·Roof Works – Approved to proceed to tender for the works issued in Q4 2023

·Causeway Further Education Centre

·Mechanical Works – [On Site] since Sep 2023 – works expected to be completed soon

·Kerry College Listowel Campus

·Roof Works – July 2023 – This project is linked in with the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund project below and will be delivered in conjunction with same.

·Killorglin Outdoor Education Centre

·Life Safety/Roof/Electrical – New application currently being assessed by my Department

1.2 Capital Works:

·O’Connell Adult Education Centre – Caherciveen

·Roof Works – Works on-site since Q3 / 2023 – Project completion expected shortly

1.3 Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund:

·Monavalley

·The design team are working through the preliminary design for this project, finalising the schedule of accommodation and completing a master planning exercise of the site for potential future development. Initial proposals have been presented to the ETB for review. Costs for the wider project are currently in development.

·Listowel

·The design team are working through the preliminary design for this project, finalising the schedule of accommodation and a number of options have been presented to KETB for review. A review of these options has taken place and the Design Team are progressing the preferred option and presentation of the Stage 1 report.

1.4 Apprenticeship Funding Profile 2024:

·Kerry College Monavalley Campus

·Electrical Equipment purchased in 2023. The final drawdown of funding is expected in Q3 2024, in the amount of €1.7m.

1.5 Devolved Grant:

·Allocation for 2024 - €507,500

The following Higher Education Capital Projects are in train.

2.1 Higher Education Public Private Partnership Programme:

·There are eleven projects being progressed through the PPP programme divided into two bundles. Bundle 1 consists of six project and includes the MTU Kerry Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) Building. The development of the STEM building in Kerry consists of a new two/three story c.9,000m2 facility to include agri-machinery workshops, laboratories, classrooms and ancillary space. The project will be built on the North Campus at Dromtacker and represents an important step in the consolidation of the MTU Kerry Campus on that site. It will replace infrastructure on the South campus that is no longer fit for purpose and will increase the capacity at MTU Kerry by 440 students. The project is currently under construction and on programme with completion expected in Q2 2025.

2.2 Devolved Capital Grant:

The Devolved Capital Grant provides flexible capital funding to eligible further and higher education institutions to support small-scale building works (including health and safety works, access works, refurbishment, energy upgrades etc.) and equipment purchase or renewal, including ICT. It is a matter for individual further and higher education institutions to determine what works are prioritised. In June 2023 MTU Cork and Tralee received €3,279,431.00 for the devolved grant 2023/2024 and in November 2023 MTU received an advance payment of €3,197,459 for the 2024/2025 devolved grant. The total amount received by MTU is €6,476,890 which can be expended up to 31st August 2025.