With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I wish to give two minutes of my time to Deputy Dan Wallace.
Adjournment Debate. - Second UCC Campus.
I am sure that is satisfactory and agreed.
I thank the Minister of State for responding to my invitation to clarify the Government's intention in respect of the proposal to develop a second campus at University College Cork on the site of the former Our Lady's Hospital on the Lee Road.
Conditions on the existing campus are intolerable. The library facilities are abysmal with inadequate space for students who want to read and study after lecture time. The position in the medical faculty is even worse. There are plans to expand the range of courses provided by that faculty — such as degree courses for nurses — but they cannot be put in place within the existing space available. I could give a dozen other examples but time does not permit. The key point is that there is no further room for exapansion within the perimeter walls. The residents in the neighbourhood of the universities are being put under severe strain because of increased traffic congestion created by the population in the college.
As there is no further room for expansion, UCC drew up a major development plan to purchase from the Southern Health Board the hospital building and grounds at the Lee Road. This plan was contingent on the provision of public funding for the development. The outgoing Coalition Government of which the then Minister for Education, Deputy Bhreathnach's party was a partner, pledged £10 million to this development. Very strong and sustainable arguments on educational, social and economic grounds have been advanced in support of this plan.
I regret that the Minister for Education — who was also the Minister for Education during the previous Government — is not present but I am asking her spokesperson to state clearly and categorically that the undertaking entered into by a former Taoiseach will be honoured.
I thank Deputy Quill for sharing her time with me. I am delighted our constituency colleague who is very familiar with the situation will respond to this debate.
University College Cork urgently needs extra accommodation for its rapidly expanding student numbers. As well as meeting the college's space requirements for many years to come, the proposed extension of University College Cork on the site of Our Lady's Hospital on the Lee Road has two further advantages; first, it represents the first development of third level education facilities on the north side — in recent years the north side has suffered most from the closure of major industries such as Fords, Dunlops and Verolme and as a consequence certain streets in the area have unemployment rates in excess of 70 per cent. The location of a major extension of University College Cork at the site of Our Lady's Hospital will mark a major turning point for the area. The development would generate a large number of short term jobs during the building phase and a number of permanent positions in the long term. The extension of University College Cork on the north side will act as a much needed safety valve for the college which is now overcrowded.
I urge the Government to follow the example set by the former Taoiseach, Deputy Reynolds, by Deputy Bertie Ahern and the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Spring, when they offered their support to the project in April 1994. It is vital that the necessary finances are provided to ensure this development on the north side and I look forward to a positive response.
Consideration was first given by University College Cork to acquiring the site of Our Lady's Hospital as an international college of health and social sciences in early 1994. Subsequently the governing body of the college decided to commission a study on the feasibility of the hospital site being developed as part of the university campus. The study, prepared by consultants appointed by the university, addressed issues such a student numbers by faculty and the current and capital cost implications of the proposed development, was submitted by the university to the Higher Education Authority in late 1994. The authority has the statutory responsibility for advising the Minister for Education in respect of third level projects. In accordance with this responsibility the authority is carrying out a full evaluation of all aspects of the proposals. It has confirmed to the Department of Education that it is now in the process of finalising its examination of the proposal for the acquisition and development of what was formerly Our Lady's Hospital as a second campus of University College Cork.
It is important to note that the examination by the Higher Education Authority of the proposed acquisition and development by University College Cork of Our Lady's Hospital is a separate exercise and did not form part of the specific remit of the Steering Commitee on the Future Development of Higher Education. As Deputies will be aware, the Minister for Education established this steering committee under the chairmanship of the Higher Education Authority to examine future education needs. The focus of this committee's work is on the overall needs for future higher education provision. The report of the committee has not yet been finalised; when it is, the report will be considered by the Higher Education Authority which will advise the Minister on future policy options. However, future developments in the higher education sector will be set in the context of overall Government policy and the needs of the sector generally.
When the recommendations and advice of the Higher Education Authority on Our Lady's Hospital are received the proposal will be given full consideration.
I thank Deputy Quill for giving me the opportunity of clarifying matters because some of the stories appearing in the newspapers are confusing the issue.
They are accurate.
The reports being leaked are in relation to the steering committee which is dealing with the overall issue of third level education whereas the Higher Education Authority is separately considering the proposals from University College Cork on this development. Deputy Quill mentioned that a former Taoiseach, Deputy Reynolds, pledged £10 million for the development of Our Lady's Hospital; it may have been announced but no money was set aside for the development.
The Deputy's Government announced nothing, and the message is no.
The essence of the proposal being considered by the Higher Education Authority is the development of a multi-purpose, multi-faculty campus on the former hospital site. Unlike the £10 million that was announced and not provided, the cost of the development being proposed is estimated at £22.5 million and a capital grant of £19.75 million.
Who carried out that study?
In addition to the capital costs it is estimated that an annual recurrent grant of the order of £11 million would be required to service the extra 2,800 students who would be accommodated on the campus.
The Higher Education Authority is now considering the proposal submitted by University College Cork and will report within a reasonable time. As a graduate of University College Cork where I worked for 18 years before I came to this august institution, I have a personal interest in it, it is on my doorstep in Shanakiel, and I will be doing everything possible to facilitate the project.
We can take it from that that the Minister will deliver.