Funding has been secured for a refurbishment project at the College of Further Education and Training (FET) Scariff Campus in County Clare.

The improvement works will create a purpose built extension to the campus and increase the number of construction and engineering courses. These courses will help students meet local and national demands.

Announcing the capital investment, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD said the new facility will "underpin the national strategy in facilitating the development of the most agile and most highly skilled workers of the next generation".

This projects comes under the next division of capital investment of the FET Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund. Funding for this project will be provided through SOLAS to Limerick and Clare ETB.

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The refurbishment project will move forward to the appointment of a design team with the potential of a more detailed project brief following consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Minister Harris said: "This purpose-built extension will facilitate integrated FET learning on one Campus, enhancing the crucial role our Further Education Institutions play in supporting an inclusive and progressive society which serves the needs of everyone in society.

"I want to pay tribute to Limerick and Clare ETB for their innovative and forwarding thinking, and having the learner at the heart of all that they do. This investment announced today demonstrates their ongoing commitment to strengthening FET provision in Scariff and surrounding regions."

Chief Executive of Limerick and Clare ETB, George O’Callaghan, said: "We are delighted to welcome the Minister to East Clare today. The ETB very much welcomes the significant planned investment by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science through SOLAS in the Further Education and Training facilities in Scariff that are in need of update.

"The announcement aligns with the ETB’s FET Strategic Framework priority of ensuring FET facilities provide the best learning and working environments that reflect quality and industry standards, and promote innovation and sustainability."