Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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2611.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on the funding allocation to date, and the timeframe for the development of, Cavan Institute as a hub for further education and training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32198/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that a proposal was put forward by Cavan Monaghan ETB (CMETB) under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund and that CMETB are being supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Cavan town. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. The proposal put forward by CMETB is one of twelve projects that are currently being progressed under this fund.

SOLAS and officials from my department recently met with all twelve ETBs including CMETB, to discuss their proposal in the context of relevant regional and national FET policy objectives. CMETB are now working on refining their business case proposal to ensure it will deliver on their priority infrastructure requirements that will meet the needs of their current and future learners and staff.

Business cases that are updated and submitted will be evaluated immediately by SOLAS and my department and those proposals that meet the required evaluation criteria will move to the next stage of development, which is the Pre-Tender – Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy stage.

SOLAS and my department will continue to work closely with CMETB in supporting them through this proposal development phase.

I would like to add that my department has also recently provided significant investment in Cavan Institute. The Deputy will also be aware that in order to address interim accommodation needs, my department approved circa €6 million for the acquisition, fit out and associated works for a substantial modular unit for CMETB, facilitating the opening of the new Education and Training Facility for Cavan Institute at its FET Campus in September 2023. This facility gives 300 students access to a range of PLC programmes which will offer state of the art facilities for students and staff and allow for the further growth of Cavan Institute.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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2612.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the discussions he has had or is planning to have with his Northern Ireland counterpart in relation to the development of a full stand-alone university in Derry, the largest city in the north west of Ireland; whether the possible usage of funds from the Shared Island Fund towards the development of such a university was discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32387/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I have written to the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland and expressed the hope that we can meet shortly to explore areas of common interest.

In June 2023, the Irish Government approved the allocation of up to €44.5m from the Shared Island Fund to be used solely to help meet the cost of the construction of a new Teaching Block on the Ulster University campus in Derry.

On the the question of the establishment of a 'stand alone' university in Derry, this is a matter for Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland.