Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
419 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a premises bought at a third level institution (details supplied); if there are plans in the near future to use the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11822/04]
View answerIn 2001 my Department funded the purchase of the premises referred to by the Deputy. Some minor refurbishment has already been carried out on the building to enable its partial use by the institute.
The Deputy is aware that I announced a pause in all capital developments in the third level sector, including capital projects under cycle 3 of the programme for research in third level institutions, or PRTLI, in November 2002. Funding has been provided in the 2004 Estimates to commence cycle 3 of the PRTLI.
At my request, the Higher Education Authority, or HEA, is undertaking a review of the entire set of demands in the third level sector, excluding PRTLI, to establish prioritisation and agree re-phasing for future years.
Each institution has met the review group, made a presentation of its institutional strategy and set the capital development proposals in a strategic context.
Plans by the institute concerned for the major refurbishment and development of the premises formed part of its submission to the review group.
The work of the group is at a very advanced stage, and it is the intention of the group to have a report submitted to the Higher Education Authority very shortly. The authority will advise me of its views.
Decisions on capital projects at third level institutions, including the refurbishment of the premises in question, will be taken in the context of the outcome of the review and within the parameters of the capital envelope of funding available to me.
