Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
1277. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the roll that the Grangegorman Development Agency will undertake in developing capital projects in the Further Education Sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34839/26]
View answerLast September, I received Government approval in principle, to expand the functions of the Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) to allow it to undertake capital projects beyond the Grangegorman site. The next steps in the process is to prepare a General Scheme of a Bill to amend the GDA Act 2005 and this legislative process is being progressed as a priority by my Department.
If the Act is amended, it will enable the GDA to assist in the development and delivery of major capital projects, initially in the Further Education and Training sector, in line with Programme for Government commitments. The GDA has developed considerable expertise and experience in capital project development and delivery and would provide a consistent and professional resource to capital projects and programmes in the public sector.
In the interim, while the legislative changes are being progressed, the GDA is currently supporting my department, SOLAS and the ETBs in an advisory capacity on the FET College Major Capital Programme, providing technical expertise to inform its progression. This work is in addition to the current mandate of the agency in relation to its statutory responsibilities to regenerate the Grangegorman site.
