Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
129. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has met with University College Cork and Munster Technological University with a view to developing a third-level campus on the northside of Cork city. [26654/23]
View answerI have not been made aware of any plans to develop a new campus on the north side of Cork city. However, my Department is willing to work collaboratively with all higher education institutions and Education Training Boards with the HEA and SOLAS on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans.
My Department is currently supporting a number of key ongoing major capital projects in Cork city, including a new Learning Resource Centre on the MTU Cork Campus, which is part of the Higher Education Public Private Partnership Programme, and a major upgrade project to the 1970s Building on the MTU Cork Campus Bishopstown.
UCC is also approved for funding of €25 million under the first phase of the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund to co-fund a custom-built Business School in Cork city centre.
In addition to this, I launched two new programme calls last year for the Higher Education Sector – the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF II) and Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund (TSSPF):
• Under the TSSPF programme call, I am pleased to announce that MTU's application in respect of a proposed upgrade, repurposing and extension to facilities at their Bishopstown Campus has been successful in the first stage of the assessment process and is now moving through the next stage of proposal development - the development of a preliminary business case. This proposal will provide core teaching facilities in the areas of Business, Humanities, Engineering, Science, Health and Wellbeing and Tourism.
• Under the HESIF II programme call, UCC submitted an application for re-development of the Kane Science Building. I am happy to relay that, alongside 3 other universities, I most recently announced this project as successful in securing approval in principle for a €25 million share of a €100m capital fund.
I also announced last year a programme call for the Further Education and Training Sector - College of the Future Major Projects Fund. This programme call will support the implementation of the vision set out in the Further Education Strategy.
Cork ETB's application for their Bishopstown campus (which I most recently visited) for the development of a FET College of the Future to act as a focal point for all FET services in Cork incorporating a new Digital FET Centre has been successful in the first stage of the assessment process and will now move to the next stage of proposal development - the development of a preliminary business case.
