Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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32. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to develop and support further and higher education in County Monaghan. [23275/24]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) provides a wide range of full and part time programmes throughout Cavan and Monaghan. Monaghan Institute offers a wide range of further education and training courses, including PLC courses at Levels 5 and 6, apprenticeships, traineeships as well as a range of part-time options and evening classes. The ETB’s adult education service offers part-time courses across the county and it has three Youthreach centres based in County Monaghan. The Tanagh Outdoor Education and Training Centre at Dartrey, Co. Monaghan also offers skills and training options.

The ETB is committed to expanding its range of specific skills training and is developing a new apprenticeship training facility in Monaghan town, which it is planned to open at the end of this year.

In terms of higher education, since 2019 five Technological Universities have been established across 25 multi-campuses nationally. These Universities’ regional remits stretch beyond the counties in which their campuses are located, embracing their regions as a whole. Atlantic Technological University, which was established in April 2022, serves the West and North West Regions including County Monaghan. With a student population of over 20,000, it is one of the largest Irish higher education institutions. Its strategic plan places an emphasis on supporting the vision and intent of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly to become “the most connected region in Europe”.

Dundalk Institute of Technology provides a focal point for higher education and research in the North East of the country. It provides quality learning and teaching to over 6,000 students across four Schools in Business and Humanities, Health and Science, Engineering and Informatics and Creative Arts at undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Level 6 to Level 10, in addition to its track record of excellence in craft and higher apprenticeships.

There is a new tertiary degree, the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Audio and Music Production between Cavan and Monaghan ETB and Dundalk Institute of Technology. The National Tertiary Office will continue to engage with Cavan and Monaghan ETB to develop new higher education progression pathways.