I was delighted Minister English accepted my invitation to attend a meeting in Dundalk Institute of Further Education with LMETB higher management and officials where he received a detailed report from Principal Padraig McGovern on the need for expansion to the current campus.
This year O'Fiaich Institute has an enrolment of 525 full time and 1050 part time education learners. Many of the courses offered are oversubscribed - indeed some by over 120%. The Institute is at present sharing many rooms and facilities with O'Fiaich Post Primary school. The statistics and figures speak for themselves on the growing demand for places on the courses. In addition there is a major community demand for additional new courses to meet the need of new skills needed for jobs as they are added to the market.
O'Fiaich Institute have produced an impressive strategic development plan which incorporates and prioritizes the goals and objectives of the national Further Education and Training Plan 2014-2019 and provides a clear pathway for development over the next five years. It also takes into account the changing needs of the community, population, workforce and emerging employment needs in the area
I have asked that O'Fiaich Institute be included in a national Capital Plan to ensure the needs and demands on the Institute be addressed. As it stands the Institute report they could enroll many more students and introduce additional course programmes if their accommodation needs were met.
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