Vol. 562 No. 2
170 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his Department has informed all institutes of technology that there will be no devolved grants to such institutes in 2003 and this is a major blow to ongoing works to upgrade these institutes by improving the quality of classrooms, laboratories and offices; and if he will reconsider this harsh decision. [5800/03]
With the publication of the abridged Estimates last November, I indicated that there would be a slow down in capital investment at third level. As a result, the devolved capital grant to institutes of technology is suspended in the current year. I have instructed officials in the planning and building unit of my Department to meet each institute of technology and the Higher Education Authority to review the entire set of demands in the third level sector in order to re-phase and re-establish priorities for future years.
