Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2024
49. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding progress on the public private partnership, bundle 2, specifically with reference to the funding of the engineering building in the Waterford Campus SETU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9083/24]
View answerThere are eleven projects being progressed through the PPP programme. Bundle one, consisting of six projects, has commenced construction. There are five projects in Bundle two, two of which are for South East Technological University (SETU) – one at Waterford campus and one at the Carlow campus
The project in Waterford is the largest at c. 13,000 sqm 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.
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. This commitment to the PPP programme has been carried through into the current National Development Plan 2018-2027.
The Bundle 2 procurement process is currently at tender stage and awaiting final tender.
