Finian McGrath
Ceist:350 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding funding to DIT; and if he will make a statement on future plans. [21218/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 29 September 2004
Ceisteanna (168)
Freagraí scríofa
The Dublin Institute of Technology Act 1992 provides that the governing body of the DIT is required to submit annually to my Department through the City of Dublin VEC an operational programme and budget for approval by my Department.
An annual budget for the institute is allocated following consideration of the programme and budget submission, and having regard to the available funding and to the government's commitments and priorities. The implementation of the programme and budget and the management of the resources of the institute are matters for which the governing body and the management of the institute are responsible.
The total recurrent funding allocated to DIT from 1997 to 2003 was €649.8 million. The provisional recurrent grant allocation to DIT for 2004 is €112.4 million.
Since 1997 my Department has invested over €85 million in the development of capital facilities in the Dublin Institute of Technology.
As regards future capital funding, I recently published the report of the capital review and prioritisation working group on the future capital needs in the third level sector. This report identifies an overall estimated Exchequer requirement of €1.9 billion capital funding in the third level sector over a ten year period.
The report and its proposals in relation to the phasing of funding, including funding for the Dublin Institute of Technology, will have to be considered in the context of the ongoing Estimates process.