Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on progress of the SETU Wexford campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22121/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In December of last year I was delighted to visit the site for the new Wexford Campus and to meet with the key stakeholders involved in the Wexford Campus proposal. During this visit, I requested that SETU develop a Preliminary Business Case proposal in tandem with Waterford Wexford ETB to deliver a new tertiary campus encompassing Higher Education, Further Education and Research in Wexford town. A number of engagements have taken place between SETU and WWETB in this regard and I understand that a business case proposal will be developed and submitted in the coming months. Both the HEA and my Department stand ready to evaluate the proposal once it has been developed and submitted.

In parallel to the work that is ongoing in developing the business case proposal, Wexford County Council (WCC) are progressing the purchase of a 48.5-acre site by way of a compulsory purchase order (CPO). Wexford County Council issued the “Notice of Entry” under the compulsory purchase order process in November 2025 and have now taken active possession of the lands.

This is a key strategic acquisition which will hugely benefit Wexford and the South East. The Tertiary education campus is just one component of an overall masterplan for the area which will also include a range of other different uses including housing, schools, sports facilities and transport links. Wexford County Council are leading out on developing the overall masterplan for the area. I would like to thank Eddie Taaffe, the Chief Executive of Wexford County Council and his team for the work that has gone into this to date.