Vol. 404 No. 9
44 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Education the steps she intends to take to deal with the major crisis in third level colleges, universities, the Dublin Institute of Technology and regional technical colleges, as a result of gross overcrowding in libraries, canteens, classes, studios and all facilities.
The Government are committed to a major programme of capital investment in the third level education sector as follows: An investment of £15 million is being undertaken in the universities to facilitate the creation of 3,600 additional places by 1993 — a special initiative announced in the 1990 budget; a major programme of capital investment, supported by the European Structural Fund, is currently underway in both the universities and VEC colleges; this will involve a total investment of £75 million (at 1990 prices) over the period up to 1993; in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress the Government have announced their intention, as part of a programme commencing in 1992, to upgrade or replace all sub-standard buildings in VEC third level colleges by 1997 and to provide funding additional to the current capital provision for this purpose; funding of £9.7 million has been provided to UCD to enhance its accommodation through the acquisition of Carysfort.
I am satisfied that this programme of capital investment, coupled with possible further investment in the context of the various other initiatives to expand the number of third places outlined in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, will help to ensure fully adequate facilities in our third level institutions. It represents a very significant and substantial commitment to third level education.
