Major investment in Athlone further education sector announced
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris TD, has announced a multi-million euro investment in the creation of state of the art further education facilities on the campus of the existing Athlone Training Centre in Garrycastle.
The significant capital investment was announced at noon today (Monday) by Minister Harris on a visit to Athlone, and this key project forms part of a first phase of projects to be advanced under the national Further Education and Training Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF).
Funding for the project is to be provided through SOLAS to the Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB), and the appointment of a design team will follow today's funding announcement.
Announcing the investment at a special event in the Athlone Training Centre in Garrycastle, Minister Harris said: “Today marks another important day as we announce another key investment in regional further education and training provision.
“We are announcing a significant investment for further education and training in Athlone, which will see the creation a new Further Education and Training (FET) centre next to the existing Athlone Training Centre. This will enable the consolidation of existing services to one central location and provide a more campus education feel for our learners. It will provide for a more enhanced provision of services and additional capacity to meet head on the rising demand.”
The Minister acknowledged the role of Longford Westmeath ETB in advancing the planned project and said it demonstrates their “on-going commitment to the FET provision in the Athlone and surrounding regions.”
The investment will ensure that learners and staff will have a “fit for purpose facility and will provide a pipeline for students to continue their training/studies” said the Minister.
“Learners are at the centre of all further education and training. Investment in Further education and training benefits our learners, giving them a better chance to give a job, opportunities to progress to other education and training opportunities, and to gain the transversal skills that will enable them to fulfil their ambitions, and contribute fully to the economy and society.”
CEO of SOLAS, Andrew Brownlee, said: "Further Education & Training has a unique and special value both for learners and for our communities - and learners and communities in Athlone deserve cutting edge facilities and equipment. This announcement of capital funding is a welcome step that will mean that FET facilities there reflect the modern, dynamic nature of FET provision in 2022.
"The ambitious scale of vision set out in the national FET strategy, Future FET: Transforming Learning, is being met by suitably ambitious investment. This funding will enable nationally coordinated and strategic action that will form the foundation of FET Colleges of the Future; greatly expand capacity; build up our national skills portfolio; strengthen pathways through and from FET; and most importantly, best serve the FET learners of today and tomorrow.
"This investment in capital is an investment in the future of FET – and most importantly, an investment in the future of the many learners in the Midlands region that it will directly benefit."
Liz Lavery, Chief Executive Officer of LWETB said: “LWETB is delighted with the news of this significant capital investment facilitating the provision of additional teaching, learning and skills development spaces on our centre here in Athlone.
“This investment will allow us to build on the excellent services we currently provide and ensure that all our learners have opportunity to reach their potential, progress to further or higher education or employment."