Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 March 2014
120. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has considered the application by a college (details supplied) in County Sligo for capital funding to provide a link building at the campus at Lough Gill, Sligo, to facilitate legal obligations relating to universal access and health and safety regulations for students and staff alike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10930/14]
View answerMy Department is in receipt of documentation regarding the provision of a link building extension at the College referred to by the Deputy.
Such capital resources as are available to my Department must be prioritised to deliver school places. This is the conclusion that the Government came to in deciding on the capital envelope to be made available to the Department for the years 2012 to 2016 in November 2011. In effect the education capital budget targets addressing the provision of much needed school places due to the extensive demographic growth and extends only to meeting commitments that existed in the higher education sector in November 2011. The exception to this latter position relates to the advancement of the Grangegorman project which is being progressed through the Public Private Partnership process as part of the Economic Stimulus Plan as announced in July 2012.
