The time taken from the submission of a proposal to my Department until construction commencement will vary significantly, and depend on a range of factors, including the status of the proposal, whether or not there is a clear funding pathway for the proposal, and the point in the project lifecycle at which the proposal is submitted.
The five projects approved under the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF) programme are examples of recent significant capital projects sanctioned by my Department.
The funding allocations under this co-funded programme were done by way of competitive call against set criteria outlined in the call document. The call document was published in December 2018 with the deadline for applications in April 2019. The HEA-led assessment team met over May and June with Ministerial approval granted in early August 2019. The five successful capital projects were:
- Maynooth University Technology Society and Innovation Building
- IT Sligo Extension to Central Campus (E01)
- UCC Cork University Business School
- NUI Galway Learning Commons
- UCD Future Campus Phase 1
As the Deputy will be aware, delivery of projects in the higher education sector is devolved to the higher education institutions. Responsibility for the planning and procurement processes, as well as project delivery timelines, all fall within the remit of the HEIs. The projects identified above are now at various stages, from planning and design to construction.
Project reporting to the HEA is in line with agreed Devolved Control Procedures.
