Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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3408. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made in colleges of the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43465/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The College of the Future Major Projects Fund (COTF) was launched in February 2022 to address existing deficits in FET infrastructure, to support projects that drive reform of the FET sector and to facilitate consolidation and integration of further education and training. A total of twelve projects were successful at the first stage of the assessment process and these moved to the next stage of the development process – The development of a Preliminary Business Case.

To date 8 proposals met the relevant criteria and were approved to move to the next stage of development, the Pre-tender – Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy Stage. These projects are located in Cork ETB (Bishopstown), Cavan Monaghan ETB (Cavan Town), Kilkenny Carlow ETB (Kilkenny City), Kildare Wicklow ETB (Bray), Limerick Clare ETB (Newcastle West), Galway Roscommon ETB (Galway City), City of Dublin ETB (Cathal Brugha Street) and Tipperary ETB (Clonmel). It is anticipated that preliminary business case proposals from the remaining ETBs will be submitted for evaluation later this year. In parallel to this, work is ongoing in the identification and potential acquisition of sites which will be required to support a number of these projects.

SOLAS and officials from my department will continue to support all ETBs in progressing their proposals. My department and I remain committed to ensuring there is appropriate infrastructure in place to meet the needs of all our FET learners and teaching staff.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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3409. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans for a colleges of the future in county Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43466/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund was launched in February 2022 to address existing deficits in FET infrastructure, to support projects that drive reform of the FET sector and to facilitate consolidation and integration of further education and training. All ETBs were invited to submit proposals under this programme for consideration, twelve projects were successful at the first stage of the assessment process and are currently being progressed under this programme.

A proposal from Louth Meath ETB (LMETB) for its project in Dunboyne is currently being progressed under this programme call. The proposal involves the construction of a new, fit-for-purpose facility on a greenfield site in Dunboyne. This proposed new infrastructure will enhance and support the delivery of FET provision for learners and teaching staff across the wider Louth Meath region. LMETB is currently refining its business case proposal and once completed it will submit it to SOLAS for evaluation.

Business Cases that meet the evaluation criteria will advance to the next stage of development: Pre-Tender – Project Design, Planning, and Procurement Strategy. The development of a robust Preliminary Business Case is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines.