Apprenticeships: Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-10
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Cathal Byrne (FG), Cultural and Educational Panel

I acknowledge our guests in the Gallery, in particular the 2025 Rose of Tralee. She is most welcome here this evening. Her story serves as an inspiration for so many people across the country who are currently considering going down the apprenticeship route.
Being from Wexford, I highlight the important work the South East Technological University, SETU, does there and in the south-east. Indecon recently completed a report, which showed that 37% of the people who take up college courses through the SETU continue to work and remain in the area immediately, rather than what we have at the moment, which is a persistent brain drain of people leaving County Wexford and moving to Dublin, Waterford, or perhaps further afield. They go to third level and do not come back. This persistent issue has affected County Wexford over many generations. I particularly highlight the very important need for a designated campus at the SETU in Wexford. There is a 48.5 acre site secured at Ballynagee in Wexford town. I visited it about seven weeks ago with the Minister, Deputy Lawless.
What we really need to see, and this is so important for future growth in the region and county, is the master plan being delivered and prioritised and the process being sped up a bit. This is a project that has been discussed for too many years. We need to see planning permission being applied for, tenders going out and construction on that site. The uniqueness about this project is that the 48.5 acres will not only host the SETU designated campus, but it will also be home to a designated campus for the WWETB. While we are discussing apprenticeships, which would be a real driver for housebuilding and for so many people and careers in Wexford, we have to get to grips with the reality of this, which is that it has dragged on for too many years. I ask that the Minister work hand in hand with the SETU, the WWETB and Wexford County Council, to ensure that this project gets the priority it needs and is actually delivered, and that we are not having to wait as the different steps drag.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-10/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:36+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-10