Technological Universities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024

Tuesday, 13 February 2024

Questions (618)

Matt Shanahan

Question:

618. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the Government's position on approving the PPP engineering building at SETU campus Waterford and agreeing contracts to immediate construction understanding that this project was separated from a batch one proposal in 2020 which are now completed, understanding that this project was first planning approved in 2011 with present planning permission to expire in coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5917/24]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Simon Harris)

The Government through my Department remains fully committed to the delivery of the Engineering, Computing and General Teaching building at the South East Technological University (SETU) campus at Waterford. The project in Waterford is the largest in the Higher Education PPP Programme and will be transformative for SETU. It will consist of undergraduate and postgraduate laboratories, general and specialised teaching space, learning resource space, administration space and ancillary space. Student numbers catered for by the new building will be c. 3,443 students.

This commitment to the PPP programme has been carried through into the current National Development Plan 2018-2027.

There are eleven projects being progressed through the PPP programme. Bundle 1, consisting of six projects is currently under construction with separate completion dates expected between Q4 2024 to Q2 2025.

There are five projects in Bundle 2, two of which are for SETU – one at the Waterford campus and one at the Carlow campus.

The Bundle 2 procurement process is currently at tender stage and awaiting final tender.