Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2026
140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that will be made in 2026 and 2027 in delivering upgrades and new accommodation for the Further Education Sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50257/26]
View answerUnder the NDP 2025 review, I secured €4.55bn in capital funding for 2026–2030. A Sectoral Plan, published in December 2025, sets out investment priorities across higher and further education and research. €107m of my Department's 2026 capital allocation will be invested in further education capital infrastructure, with a further €122m allocated for 2027. This incorporates €37m in 2026 and €52m in 2027 provided through the National Training Fund Surplus Package, announced in Budget 2025.
Continued investment in the FET sector will enable new and upgraded facilities, modernised campuses, and additional capacity to meet growing regional and national demand. Other specific programmes being supported by this investment include the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Programme, Apprenticeships, Emergency Health and Safety Works grants, Devolved Grants, including specific funding for Green Initiatives and the Minor Capital Works Grant.
There are also 12 ETBs progressing a project under the FET College Major Capital Programme. Nine are at Pre-tender Stage with the remaining three at Preliminary Business Case stage as they require site purchases.
In January, Department Officials met with all 12 of the Chief Executives who have projects under this programme. At this meeting ETBs were informed that they need to prioritise work on these projects so that design teams can be appointed in 2026 for those projects which are ready to do so.
In order to provide for consistency of approach and to ensure for the timely delivery of projects under this Programme, an integrated design team framework was advertised to suppliers in April of this year. Applications to be part of this framework are currently being evaluated and when in place will provide for a framework of pre-approved design team consultants, that ETBs will be in a position to draw down services from, when they are ready to so.
I am committed to delivering sustained capital investment across the FET sector, ensuring learners and staff have high-quality facilities that support skills development and lifelong learning.
