Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-19
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Simon Harris (FG), Wicklow

How do I know Fingal is the youngest and fastest-growing area in Ireland? It is because the Deputy keeps telling me so it must be true. I know it to be true. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and acknowledge that she and our colleague Councillor Luke Corkery are working closely on it. It is something I genuinely care deeply about. The population of Swords is huge, bigger than that of a number of cities. It is one of the ten locations the Government has chosen with SOLAS and the education and training boards to develop a college of the future. The idea that Swords would be without college opportunities is unfathomable at this stage. It has to change and this is the project that is going to change it. We said when we announced the project that such projects take a number of years. They genuinely do. We are trying to develop a campus that will serve 1,000 full-time students and up to 5,000 part-time learners so 6,000 people could benefit. The relevant Minister, Deputy James Lawless, is very committed to this and has given approval for the relevant site. I believe legal due diligence requirements need to be dealt with now. The acquisition of the site is the next aim. I will ask the Minister to provide the Deputy with a specific update. I look forward to visiting Swords with her shortly.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:40+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-19