Minister says no plans for proposed development in Mayo town

COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLYHAUNIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (MARCH 4 EDITION)

The Minister for Higher Education James Lawless has told Mayo TD Rose Conway Walsh that there are no plans to develop a further education and training centre in Ballyhaunis.

In a written reply to the Mayo TD, Minister Lawless said: “SOLAS and Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB (MSLETB) have both confirmed that no application in respect of a proposed development of this nature was submitted for consideration to my Department in 2021 or thereafter.”

Deputy Conway Walsh has been seeking the establishment of such a centre since 2021, putting numerous questions to various ministers in which she cited the needs of Ballyhaunis’ diverse and young population for a skills training centre.

Ballyhaunis is likewise not identified by Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education Training Board (MSLETB) in its recently submitted FET (Further Education Training) Estates Strategy, “either in respect of current provision or medium to long-term planning,” noted the Minister.

“ETBs were requested in the development of their estates’ strategies to include any intention for new or changed location of provision. Ballyhaunis is not a location that the ETB has notified to SOLAS as being under consideration for a further education and training centre.

“My department works collaboratively with all higher education institutions and education and training boards on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans. In 2022, my department launched the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund. This programme will support major investment in the Mayo region, with a FET College of the Future planned for Castlebar.”