As part of the overall strategic capital development programme for the third level sector, proposals for upgrading all teaching facilities, including art and design, are being formulated in consultation with college authorities for implementation on a rolling basis and within the framework of available funding resources. This programme is designed to ensure that students are provided with appropriate and safe working environments.
With regard to the upgrading works relating to the specific institutions referred to by the Deputy, I am pleased to avail of the opportunity to advise that considerable progress has been made in this area. Construction work has recently commenced at a cost of £6 million on the replacement of facilities for the students of the National College of Art and Design at present accommodated at Leinster Lane. This major new development will facilitate the resiting of all the activities of the college onto one campus at Thomas Street.
Cluain Mhuire, a property adjacent to the Galway regional technical college, was acquired by the college authorities with the approval of my Department in September 1995. Planning of upgrading works for the newly acquired property is at an advanced stage and tenders are due to be sought shortly by the college authorities.
Substantial properties were also acquired in 1994 by Waterford and Limerick regional technical colleges. In the case of Limerick, phases I and II of the upgrading works have been already completed. The objective is to house all art and design students on the same campus. Upgrading work has commenced on the Waterford property and further upgrading works are at planning stage. Extensive upgrading works have also been carried out to the Crawford art and design campus of Cork regional technical college and were completed in early 1996.
The position with regard to Dublin Institute of Technology is that officials of my Department are engaged in ongoing consultations with the institute authorities regarding an overall campus development plan, including a broad range of issues relating to the provision of appropriate replacement facilities for students currently accommodated in rented facilities at Mountjoy Square and Portland Row. While I recognise that further upgrading, improvement and replacement works are required I am nevertheless satisfied that, despite the many major problems that I inherited in this area when I became Minister, significant progress has been made at this stage towards providing the colleges with a safe working environment for all the students.