Green light for €40M Cavan FET Campus

Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) has been given the green light to proceed to the next phase of its development of a €40 million College of The Future.

It follows a robust evaluation process by SOLAS under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, delivered the news last week that Cavan was one of only 10 projects selected.

CMETB is now moving to the pre-tender stage - Project Design, Planning and Procurement.

The proposed project envisages the development of a new FET facility to serve upwards of 1,000 students while also consolidating existing accommodation to one location in Cavan Town.

The proposed new campus is part of the Government’s FET ‘Colleges of the Future’ strategy.

“The proposal put forward by Cavan Monaghan ETB envisages the delivery a new building to be constructed as part of the Cavan Institute campus,” said Minister Humphreys, who outlined that the new building create a more “consistent learner experience” across a wide range of FET and tertiary programmes and apprenticeships.

“The development will also make a significant contribution to ETB and sectoral climate action goals.”

Carmel Brady, board member and former chair of CMETB, welcomed the news.

“I know first-hand the positive impact this institution makes on the lives of students and parents alike,” she said.

The general election candidate described the announcement as a “proud moment”.

“This milestone is the culmination of years of work by so many people. Today demonstrates that anything is possible when you work together, and when you believe.”

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Patrick O’Donovan, congratulated CMETB and thanked them for their “leadership and vision”.

A spokesperson for CMETB meanwhile stated that the investment will ensure that Cavan and Monaghan continue to “thrive” as regions of growth and opportunity.

“Through this College of the Future development, CMETB is committed to delivering flexible education pathways that meet both learners’ needs and workforce demands, enhancing industry partnerships, expanding apprenticeships, and ensuring course relevance to evolving skills.”

Cavan-Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith welcomed the news too.

“I was the Cathaoirleach of the first Board of Management of Cavan Institute and along with Councillor Clifford Kelly and the late, VEC CEO John McKay, I strongly advocated and succeeded in having the campus, the first of its kind in Ireland, built at the Cathedral Road.”

He added: “I have always recognised the potential of this College to grow both in enrolment and in the choice of courses available, both to school leavers and adults.”

Funding for the new college of the future was first announced back in December 2022 by then Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris.

In Cavan last Monday as he visited the county on a whistle-stop election tour of the border region, the now Taoiseach told the Celt, the investment in education is something he feels “very strongly about” and “will make a real difference”.

On his canvas the Fine Gael leader spoke with two local third level students - one studying childcare and the other physiotherapy.

He also spoke of the importance of young people having options in terms of accessing education on their doorstep.

“We have to get away from this mindset that everyone has to move to Dublin to get things done. We have to be able to provide more education, more childcare, more public services, and the North East here has a huge role to play.”