Written answers
Wednesday, 18 September 2024
Department of Education and Skills
Further and Higher Education
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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846. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans for capital investment in further and higher education facilities in counties Carlow and Kilkenny in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36547/24]
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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My Department works collaboratively, through SOLAS and the HEA, with the Education Training Boards and all higher education institutions on the development and delivery of capital projects.
Capital investment in Carlow and Kilkenny for 2024 will be realised through existing capital projects and devolved funding mechanisms as detailed in the below table.
The table below outlines Further Education and Training (FET) and Higher Education (HE) projects currently in train throughout counties Carlow and Kilkenny.
Programme | County | Institute | Project | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FET: Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund | Kilkenny | Grennan Equestrian Centre, Thomastown, Kilkenny Carlow ETB | Project to replace existing temporary accommodation | Project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning |
| FET: College of the Future Major Projects Fund | Kilkenny | Kilkenny Carlow ETB | FET College of the Future | Kilkenny Carlow ETB have submitted a proposal under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund to develop a flagship facility on a new site in Kilkenny. The business case for their proposal is currently being evaluated and this process is expected to conclude in the coming weeks. In parallel, work continues advancing the acquisition of an appropriate site for the college. |
| FET: Apprenticeship Fund | Kilkenny | Training Centre – Purcellsinch Training Centre, Kilkenny Carlow ETB | Refurbishment Works to provide 2 x electrical workshops and classroom / training room | Works valued at approximately €1.9m were completed in August 2024 |
| FET: Devolved Capital Grant | Kilkenny & Carlow | Kilkenny Carlow ETB | Devolved capital funding managed by the ETB | €435,000 annual allocation for KCETB for 2024 Flexible funding to support ETBs with small-scale building works and equipment purchase or renewal |
| HE: Energy Efficiency Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme (EEDPP) 2021 | Carlow | SETU Carlow Campus | Burrin Building - Medium retrofit with high-temperature air source heat pump | On Site – Expected Completion due in Q4 2024 |
| HE: PPP Programme Bundle 2 | Carlow | SETU Carlow | Science and Health Building | The final tender for Bundle 2 was received in March 2024 and construction is expected to commence in Q1 2025 - subject to Cabinet approval |
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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847. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail the supports available to a person (details supplied), facing exclusion from further education due to their immigrant status. [36580/24]
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies; responsible for assessing student applications and determining the tuition fee payable by individual students.
The higher education tuition fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the fee rates of a particular institution. Typically there are two rates of fee, an EU Rate of Fee or a non-EU rate of tuition fee. As autonomous bodies, higher education institutions are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs. This includes setting the criteria a person must meet to be regarded as an EU or a Non-EU tuition fee student. In this regard, as the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible for my Department to offer guidance on the fee arrangements that may apply for individual students, such as those that may apply in the case raised by the Deputy, or to intervene in the fee policy of the institution.
Students can contact the Student Services team at the institution attended for advice on the wide range of services which are available to support them to continue on their course. The Higher Education Institution attended can offer guidance on financial supports, bursaries or other supports appropriate to a student’s individual circumstances.
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