Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
425 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has plans to assist in providing a new engineering school at NUI, Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the increased number of students opting to take engineering at NUI Galway in recent years and of the significance of this to the BMW region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11828/04]
View answerI acknowledge the importance of the NUIG engineering faculty for economic growth nationally but more particularly for the BMW region.
However, the Deputy is aware that I announced a pause with regard to all capital developments in the third level sector including capital projects under cycle 3 of the programme for research in third level institutions, 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 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 and made a presentation of its institutional strategy and set the capital development proposals in a strategic context. Plans by NUI Galway for the proposed new engineering school 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 to have a report submitted to the HEA shortly. The authority will then advise me of its views.
Decisions as regards capital projects at third level institutions, including the proposed new engineering school at NUI Galway, will be taken in the context of the outcome of the review and within the parameters of the capital envelope of funds available to me.
