Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 April 2024
266. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if all capital projects at University College Cork are currently subject to review by the HEA; and what start and completion dates are anticipated for the new Cork University Business School Building and the new Cork Dental School Building. [15882/24]
View answerAll capital projects at University College Cork are currently subject to review by the HEA. Projects that are deemed necessary and essential which the HEA have approved shall proceed, with all other capital projects being subject to the pause.
Cork University Business School (CUBS) was approved in principal for €25 million under the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF 1) in 2019 to co-fund a custom-built Business School. UCC had programmed to request Higher Education Authority (HEA) approval to proceed to tender for the main works contract in Q1 2024.
However, following the UCC notification of an €11.2m deficit, the HEA requested that UCC pause the capital programme (including the CUBS project), pending the completion of a review and submission of a capital report, which the HEA received on 20 March 2024.
Following receipt of this initial report and a follow up meeting between the HEA and UCC, which took place on 28 March 2024, the HEA requested further information from UCC on their capital programme, this additional information is still outstanding and the pause remains in place.
With regard to the Cork Dental School Building, this Department works collaboratively with all higher education institutions on the development of capital projects in line with their established master plans. As an autonomous body, it is a matter for UCC to prioritise its capital projects accordingly. There have been two rounds of capital funding made available to Higher Level Institutions under the HESIF. Each institute was permitted to submit one project per funding round and Cork Dental School would have been eligible for funding under HESIF. UCC has chosen not to submit the Dental School for consideration.
The HEA recently undertook an Expressions of Interest (EOI) process to identify options for developing substantial medium-term additional capacity in a range of priority healthcare disciplines including dentistry. University College Cork proposed an expansion of its existing dentistry programme. In June 2023 the Minister for Health and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science announced details of the potential options identified under this process. My Department will continue to engage closely on this matter with Government colleagues to advance the process, with investment to be considered?in the context of the ongoing review of Departmental National Development Plan allocations.
