Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 March 2022
100. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of funding his Department has ring-fenced for a new campus for a facility (details supplied); and the stage the plans are at. [16924/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 14th February last I announced the parameters of an ambitious new phase of capital investment in the further education and training sector. The investment will include:
- A FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund, supporting projects to drive reform of the FET sector, including consolidation of provision in high quality facilities, integration of further education and training, realisation of centres of excellence and unified tertiary planning; and
- A Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund, supporting smaller-scale investments in existing FET infrastructure which are also aligned with FET College of the Future principles
The Cavan Institute project was previously part of the school building programme, prior to the establishment of my Department. It has been agreed that the project will now be advanced as part of the new FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund, subject to meeting Public Spending Code (PSC) requirements. A proposal for Cavan Institute is at the early stages of development by Cavan and Monaghan ETB (CMETB). SOLAS and CMETB will engage in a process of planning and appraisal of the project which will include the development of cost estimates.
Capital investment in the FET sector is expected to increase from expenditure of less than €20 million in 2020 to annual funding of over €100 million by 2025. The project for Cavan Institute will be progressed as part of that programme of investment.
