Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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261. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the progress of the new Wexford campus of SETU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39349/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that over the last number of years, SETU have been working closely with Wexford County Council (WCC) to help identify an appropriate site for a permanent home for their Wexford Campus. As part of this engagement, a preferred site was identified. Following a lengthy negotiation process between WCC and the Vendor, agreement could not be reached on price. WCC have since progressed the acquisition of the site by way of compulsory purchase order (CPO).

The intention is that a proportion of this site will be used to facilitate a new Wexford Campus for SETU with the reminder of the site being developed by WCC.

The acquisition has significantly progressed with WCC having successfully moved to the final stages of the CPO process with the “Notice to Treat” being served. The issuing of this notice is a significant milestone as it obligates the Local Authority to acquire the property and obliges the owner to surrender same.

The HEA have recently received a business case from SETU outlining their proposed infrastructure requirements for the site. Once the business case is approved, it will feed into the overall masterplan currently being prepared by WCC for the subject lands.

I am aware that it has been a long-term ambition of SETU to secure a suitable permanent campus site in Wexford to facilitate higher education progression and integration in the South East, and I remain fully supportive of this ambition.