Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
45 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the content of the recent package of capital funding she announced for the third level sector; when these projects are likely to commence and be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30496/04]
View answerIn announcing an end to the freeze on Exchequer capital funding at third level I indicated that certain high national priority projects would now be proceeding. These key projects include a number of facilities to support the expansion of teacher training places and provision of additional health skills places. The announcement of Exchequer support for these 16 projects in nine institutions marks the commencement of implementation of the Kelly report on the capital needs of the higher education sector. The projects are as follows: the construction of a major new multi-purpose teaching hall and infrastructure works at Mary Immaculate College of Education in Limerick at a cost of €16 million; the first phase of the provision of extensive new accommodation and other works at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, at a cost of €6.2 million, two projects; refurbishment and new building at the National College of Art and Design, NCAD, Thomas Street, Dublin, costing €2.8 million; new buildings for the schools of pharmacy, health therapies and social work in University College Cork costing €15.9 million, three projects; new buildings for the schools of physiotherapy and radiography as part of phase 1 of the health sciences complex at University College Dublin at a cost of €15.2 million, two projects; a new integrated health sciences building for clinical psychology and health therapies, together with new accommodation for social work, in NUI Galway costing €9.5 million, three projects; a new building for the school of pharmacy at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland at cost of €2.8 million; the provision of radiography facilities at Trinity College Dublin costing €3.5 million; new building for health therapies at the University of Limerick at a cost of €6.8 million; and the development of the Clinton Centre for American Studies at UCD at a cost of €3.1 million.
Three projects have been completed and six are under construction. Two projects are ready to go to tender and the remaining five are at architectural planning stage. The six projects that are under construction should be completed in 2005. It is expected that one of the projects at tender stage will be completed by the end of 2005 and the other, which is a major project, is expected to be completed in 2006. In relation to the five projects at architectural planning, while it is anticipated that these should be ready to go to tender in 2005, it is not possible at this stage to indicate with accuracy when the projects will commence or be completed due to the variety of issues that may arise during the planning stage which can contribute to projects not advancing as quickly as hoped.
