Third Level Education
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-09
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James Lawless (FF), Kildare North

It is very surprising and disappointing for me to hear this because I visited the college and there was local media coverage of it on numerous occasions in the past. The Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, has been highly engaged on the issue with all stakeholders. However, it is a fact that until this transfer completes, Carlow College remains a privately operated institution outside of the State system and it has autonomy over all matters, including staff, public relations and employment. It is important that every student will be allowed to continue their training and to complete and graduate as expected.
Furthermore, it is important to say that a significant sum of money will be paid by the State through the Department to Carlow College in consideration of the transfer of its campus to SETU, and it is fully expected and anticipated that this will be made available as part of the restructuring process when consideration is being made for staff. This will happen in the appropriate way through the representative bodies and the trade unions. It was not for me as Minister to do so but I strongly encouraged and advocated for full staff engagement at all times, including formally and in writing over the past two years. I have stressed on multiple occasions the importance of transparent and ongoing engagement with staff, which I was assured was happening.
It is important that we protect the staff and the students and that we secure the future use of the building as an education facility in Carlow town, and all three of these objectives have been accomplished thanks to me, the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, and other active and constructive stakeholders. I thank all involved, including the Carlow College and SETU governing teams, for their very strong work and intensive engagement to make this happen and to protect the future for learners, for the institution and for Carlow town.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:01+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-09