“I welcome confirmation by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless TD, that the Grangegorman Development Agency will be the national delivery agency for major capital projects for the Further Education Sector.  This is of particular importance to the Cavan/Monaghan ETB’s Further Education and Training College Major Capital Project proposal for the provision of additional accommodation at Cavan Institute.

In response to my Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Éireann Minister Lawless stated that this proposal involves the development of new centralised accommodation on land that is owned by Cavan Monaghan ETB and is currently occupied by Cavan Institute on Cathedral Road in the town.  He added that the project aims to consolidate existing provisions, incorporate new training programmes, and develop support services at one location with convenient transport access, including bus services to the main towns in multiple counties.  This major accommodation proposal is currently at the Pre-tender – Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy Stage”, stated Brendan Smith TD.

Minister Lawless in response to my contribution at the Further and Higher Education Oireachtas Committee stated in reference to Cavan Institute –

“On Cavan Institute, when I visited that day I saw the level, depth and breadth of learning and activities taking place there. I also saw the popularity of it because it was a bit crowded in parts and there is a need for expansion. I know there is the site next door, which we looked at on the day. What I would say to Deputy Smith – and he can take this back to his education and training board, ETB – is that I strongly support that project. I hope that his ETB will be in a position to appoint a design team this year. I see no reason it should not be able to do that. My Department and I would certainly support it. I invite the Deputy to engage with SOLAS and the Grangegorman Development Agency, which is now going to be the national delivery agency for further and education training, FET, capital projects. It did a very good job with the Grangegorman campus. Given the success of that project, which is largely now completed, I will be bringing legislation through to enable it to take on a national remit. Even before the legislation part – that is the technical part – it can start doing the work. It can engage with the Deputy’s ETB and start to put together a blueprint. That will enable the ETB to appoint a design team for that project, which brings it to the next stage. I would hope and expect the ETB can do that this year and I know the Deputy will be providing his good offices to support it in that. That is a message he can take back and I hope it is a very positive one”, concluded Minister Lawless.