Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
84. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 66 of 14 February 2023, if he will provide a status update on the proposed new further education college in Galway city; the status of the development of the preliminary business case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15752/23]
View answerAt the end of last year, I was delighted to announce that Galway and Roscommon ETB’s strategic proposal was successful at the first stage of the assessment process under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund.
This proposal will now move to the next stage of the process which will entail the development of a preliminary business case in line with public spending code requirements. SOLAS and officials from my department will meet with Galway and Roscommon ETB this week as part of a workshop to provide an overview of these templates. I look forward to receiving Galway and Roscommon ETB’s developed proposal.
The proposal put forward by GRETB relates to the development of Mervue Training Centre which would provide a state-of-the-art FET Campus and consolidate FET provision to one city location. The proposal would see the number of full-time students increase by 40%; while the number of part-time students would increase by 25%.
