Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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899. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the delay in the purchase of a property from Louth Meath Education and Training Board worth €6.5 million, which have been held in a non-interest-bearing account since September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27581/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Louth Meath ETB (LMETB) is currently being supported by SOLAS in developing its Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Dunboyne under the FET College of the Future Major Projects fund and have met as recently as this month.

The proposal put forward by LMETB relates to the development of a new fit for purpose facility on a green field site in Dunboyne, to replace the existing rented accommodation in Dunboyne. It is one of twelve projects that are currently being progressed under this fund.

LMETB is currently progressing a site option for the location of this new FET College. In this respect, officials from my department and SOLAS have been engaging with Local Authority and ETB officials to progress this matter. Ministerial approval to engage in the due diligence process for the preferred site was provided in December 2023 and we expect that the ETB will complete this required due diligence shortly. If all is in order, the next stage would be for the ETB, through SOLAS, to seek my approval to sign contracts for a preferred site.

My department is unclear on your reference to monies being held in a non-interest-bearing account. If you could provide more details on this matter, my department and I would gladly respond to you on this.