The green light has been given for Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) to proceed to the next stage in developing a College of The Future in Bray Institute of Further Education.
Government funding worth tens of millions of euro will drive the development of Wicklow College of Further Education and Training at the existing Bray campus site into a modern, state-of-the-art facility.
The redeveloped college will eventually accommodate more than 1,500 learners on-site and cater for up to 5,000 full-time, blended, and part-time equivalent learners.
Speaking in Bray, Taoiseach Simon Harris said:
“This is an incredibly proud and exciting day for Wicklow.
“This campus is now set to benefit from a major investment as it transforms itself into a state-of-the-art education and training campus which will deliver apprenticeship programmes, pre-apprenticeship courses, and establish a Centre of Excellence in Film and TV and Media.
“The investment will mean that existing FET provision, which is dispersed across several leased buildings in the Bray and North Wicklow area, will instead be delivered in one single sustainable, developed building.
“This is what we mean when we speak about equality across the tertiary sector – it shouldn’t matter where you’re from, or what path you choose in education. Everyone should have the same opportunity to reach their potential.”
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD said:
“Back in 2022, my predecessor Simon Harris announced that Bray had been chosen as one of a number of locations across the country to develop a further education College of the Future.
“And today we take another significant step forward in realising our ambition for FET in Wicklow, a move that has the potential to transform the lives of learners, staff and the wider community here.
“Today Bray and the surrounding county can look forward to the development of a modern, high-spec premises where everyone will have the opportunity to progress their learning in the best possible facilities.”
The announcement means Kildare Wicklow ETB’s proposal under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund has been successful in moving forward to the Pre-tender – Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy stage.
SOLAS CEO Andrew Brownlee said:
“Today’s capital infrastructure announcement for Bray is a milestone moment for FET in Leinster that will drive access to education, lifelong learning and workforce transformation in the region.
“This is a proud day for both SOLAS and Kildare & Wicklow ETB, and most importantly, it’s an exciting day for all of the current and future FET learners in Wicklow and the surrounding areas.
“With one in ten adults in Ireland now learning through FET or apprenticeships, the ongoing development of high-quality college environments in key locations such as Wicklow will play a critical role in meeting the increasing demand for upskilling across our communities.”
Dr Deirdre Keyes, Chief Executive of Kildare and Wicklow ETB, said:
“This project represents a major step in the advancement of Further Education and Training in Bray and North Wicklow.
“The new campus will enable us to better serve our learners, provide a modern learning environment, and respond to regional and national skills needs.”
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