Vol. 495 No. 6
7 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the short-term, medium-term and long-term proposals, if any, he has for the development of the recent large land acquisition by Waterford Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20728/98]
Waterford Institute of Technology's initial proposal indicated that the existing campus lands were inadequate for future developments, particularly for outdoor student recreational facilities. In the circumstances the Minister gave the go-ahead on 5 June for the acquisition of an additional 50 acres of land by the institute. As the vendor was only prepared to sell the 170 acres of the property as a single lot, he allowed the institute, as an exceptional matter, to acquire the entire lot subject to a feasibility study being undertaken of the 170 acre site to identify lands surplus to the needs of the institute and amounting to approximately 100 acres for disposal as directed by the Minister for Education and Science; moneys received from the disposal of any lands being refunded to the Department of Education and Science; freehold title to the lands being confirmed and full vacant possession being obtained.
The short, medium and long-term development proposals for these lands are dependent on the completion and approval of the development plan for the main campus which is being prepared; the findings of the feasibility study of the lands recently acquired to establish the area most appropriate for meeting the institute's space requirements; the outcome of planning applications to the local authority for possible developments on the main site and the lands recently acquired and also the results of the Department's normal economic studies relating to both developments to ensure value for money is achieved. The Deputy will appreciate that at this early stage there are no detailed plans for the development of the land.
Earlier this year the Minister announced a series of initiatives for the development of facilities at the institute which represented the largest ever investment since its foundation. These developments include the progressing of two major building projects and the early start of planning of a number of others. The Minister also gave final approval for the institute to proceed with the preparation of tender documentation for an extensive new library building which had been delayed for a number of years and is a much-needed facility. The Minister also gave the go-ahead to the institute to appoint a design team for the new tourism and CERT facilities to be located on the main campus.
Since then excellent progress has been made with the implementation of the institute's capital programme. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the institute recently received tenders for the new library building which are being examined by the Department. The Minister hopes to be in a position shortly to sanction the award of this major building contract bringing the institute's library facilities into line with other major higher education institutes. It will provide for the needs of over 5,000 users with facilities to connect to information worldwide, for the business community through the use of state-of-the-art technology and will facilitate access to research and communications systems. The new library will act as a focus for the south-east and facilitate open learning projects through working closely with other community enterprises. I am also pleased to advise the Deputy that the planning of the new CERT facility for the institute is proceeding satisfactorily.
These main developments clearly demonstrate the Government's commitment to ensuring the institute can meet the challenge of the year 2000 and beyond.
Am I correct in assuming that the acquisition of the property has not been concluded? Has a price been set? Am I also correct in assuming that there are no plans for the site other than a vague reference to outdoor facilities?
The purchase has not been completed. A price of £2.2 million has been agreed. It is estimated that no more than 70 acres will be needed by the institute, the balance to be sold off and the money refunded to the Department. A feasibility study is being undertaken to identify the use to which the land will be put. No specific use has been identified. It will be used to provide car parking facilities for staff and students as well as recreational facilities.
We welcome this initiative enormously. While it is a tremendous fillip for the institute, it is disappointing that it is being asked to dispose of 100 of the 170 acres being acquired. If a university is to be developed in Waterford, the immediate objective, 170 acres at least will be required for the campus, encompassing playing pitches and car parking facilities. The site on which the magnificent University of Limerick is located is at least 170 acres and we wish to emulate its achievements.
A question, please.
Will the Minister of State consider allowing the institute authorities to retain the 170 acres for the project?
In the discussions that took place prior to the acquisition the institute authorities indicated their requirements to the Department. Sanction was given to acquire 50 acres of land initially. I am not familiar with Waterford city but it seems the most suitable site, a short distance away, comprised a single lot of 170 acres, of which the vendor apparently was unwilling to sell a portion. The institute was not of the view at any time that it needed the entire 170 acres——
It was short-sighted.
The Department failed to find a site of between 50 and 70 acres. It could not get that amount because the land available comprised a single lot of 170 acres. The Department decided, as an exceptional measure, to sanction its acquisition on condition that the feasibility study was carried out and the surplus was sold with the balance due being paid to the Department.
I accept Deputy Deasy's point. The amount of land that will ultimately be sold and the amount of money refunded to the Department will depend, to a great extent, on the feasibility study. The ball is now in the institute's court. It must carry out a feasibility study indicating what it wants and how it will use it.
The Department has a responsibility to the taxpayer to ensure that its expenditure will give the best possible value for money. We will not and cannot anticipate the final acreage or how much will be sold until the feasibility study has been carried out. However, I do not anticipate the institute being allowed to retain the full 170 acres. How much it can retain and how much will be sold will be determined when the feasibility study is submitted to the Department and evaluated.
Was it taken into consideration at the time of purchase that the bypass road which will link to the second river crossing will traverse this property close to the river bank?
I assume it was. In my briefing note there is a reference to that road. I do not know when the bypass road was proposed or when it came into the equation but if it was proposed at the time the institute approached the Department, it probably was taken into consideration.
The line of the new bypass road and the location of the second river crossing in Waterford have not yet been decided. It could well go through the 170 acres and use a good deal of the land in question. I urge the Minister of State to bear that in mind. The college authorities have not been sufficiently ambitious. Perhaps the Minister of State and the Minister will also bear that in mind when the final decision is made.
