Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the Kilkenny further education and training centre. [56028/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Kilkenny and Carlow ETB's (KCETB) proposal for a new FET College in Kilkenny city has been successful in moving forward to the next stage of development - the Pre-tender, Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy stage following an evaluation process. Late last year approval and funding was provided for KCETB to acquire a 15-acre site at Joinersfolly, Loughboy, Kilkenny to facilitate this new flagship development.

KCETBs proposal is to construct a new integrated Further Education and Training College of the Future on this site. The proposed facility proposes to address critical needs, including providing a state-of-the-art education and training facility,

It also proposes to provide for the consolidation of multiple existing services that are currently dispersed around Kilkenny city into one key location, providing a flagship FET college to facilitate integrated provision and learning pathways across the full suite of FET provision.

SOLAS continues to engage with KCETB around further developing their project scope and associated schedules of accommodation. Work has also begun on the development of standardised tender documents.

SOLAS and officials from my department will continue to support KCETB through the next stage of the development of its proposal.