Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 September 2022
434. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a detailed explanation of the process and milestones, including a schedule of Department circulars or regulations, with respect to open-market opportunity land acquisitions by Higher Education Authority-funded higher education institutions. [45506/22]
View answerRequirements relating to land acquisitions by publicly-funded higher education institutions are set out both in legislation and in relevant codes.
Relevant legislation includes:
- Universities Act, 1997
- Technological Universities Act, 2018
- Institutes of Technology Act, 2006
The general requirements which must be followed by State bodies in relation to property acquisitions are set out in the following key documents:
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) Circular 17/2016: Policy for Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property
- Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016
- Public Spending Code 2019
Core requirements include, inter alia, the development of a business case and an independent valuation of the property to be acquired.
The individual governance codes adopted by higher education institutions draw on the Code of Practice for State Bodies.
In the case of Technological Universities, the consent of both the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is currently required under legislation for land acquisitions.
Some changes are proposed to relevant legislation as part of the HEA Bill to streamline processes and to ensure alignment of arrangements in legislation for Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology.
