Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
260. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which his Development of the Swords FET College fit into his Department’s wider strategy for the FET College of the Future initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67801/25]
View answerDublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB are currently being supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) for a state-of-the-art further education campus in Swords under my department’s FET College Major Capital Programme. As part of the PBC stage, Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB will need to further develop their proposal and demonstrate how it aligns with relevant regional and national policies and strategies. Once complete, the ETB can submit their proposal to SOLAS for evaluation. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines.
The site preference for this new college is Swords due to its population base and future growth projections. Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB have identified a preferred site option and I have approved for the relevant legal and site due diligence requirements to be progressed, this work remains ongoing.
