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Institutes of Technology

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2010

Thursday, 6 May 2010

Ceisteanna (10)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

9 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in progressing proposals in respect of the Grangegorman DIT project, Dublin. [18314/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (11 píosaí cainte)

The proposals contained in the strategic plan for the Grangegorman site involve major capital expenditure which requires careful and detailed assessment by my Department and the other Departments involved in the project. This assessment is nearing completion. When it is completed, it is intended to bring the proposals contained in the plan to Government for consideration.

The Grangegorman Development Agency was established in May 2006. Since its establishment, the agency has worked on the preparation of a strategic plan and budget for the proposed development of the Grangegorman site. The agency completed the drafting of the strategic plan and budget in October 2008 and forwarded it to my Department for approval as provided in section 12(h) of the relevant Act. Copies of the plan and budget were also forwarded to the Minister for Health and Children for her consideration. The Grangegorman Development Agency has provided my Department with a clear indication of the overall costs for the development of the site. This has allowed the Department the opportunity to consider fully the costs involved in utilising the majority of the Grangegorman campus to provide for needs of the Dublin Institute of Technology.

Following receipt of the strategic plan, Department officials, in consultation with the Higher Education Authority, commenced an assessment of the proposals. The Department also sought the advice of the National Development Finance Agency on the relevant funding portions of the plan. In March 2009 the agency submitted a revised master plan and budget. The revised plan takes account of the reduced prices that have materialised in the construction sector, as well as revising the estimated value of the DIT's property portfolio to reflect current market trends. The revised plan proposes to deliver the project in phases. The National Development Finance Agency has also been consulted on the revised funding plan. Given the scale of the proposals and in light of the current situation with regard to the public finances, careful consideration will be needed.

While the strategic plan and budget are being considered by the Department, work on the preparation of the strategic development zone planning scheme has been progressed by the agency. The Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive are also moving ahead with developing facilities on the site and recently announced that construction will commence this year for the new mental health replacement facilities for the residents and staff of St. Brendan's Hospital in Grangegorman.

Is the Minister of State aware that to date over €14 million has already been spent on this project? Is he also aware that it was recommended in the McCarthy report that the proposals relating to this project be dropped entirely? Is it intended to proceed with the DIT campus on the site at Grangegorman? The Minister of State referred to a number of dates. The strategic plan was brought forward over 18 months ago, while the reassessment was carried out over a year ago. However, it is not so long since we were informed that the new campus would be opened in 2010. That is not going to happen now.

Is it intended to proceed with the proposals for the Grangegorman area in full? The Minister of State indicated that they would proceed on a phased basis. What is happening in respect of this project will have implications in respect of other proposals. Have discussions taken place between the Grangegorman Development Agency, departmental officials and those who are planning metro north? Is it intended to shelve the plans relating to metro north?

The assessment being carried out by the Department is nearing completion. When it is complete, it is intended to bring the proposals that will emerge to Government for consideration. The Tánaiste intends to bring this matter to the Government in the near future. I appreciate the Deputy's interest in this matter. As a Deputy who also represents a Dublin constituency, I have visited the site in question. I am aware that the Tánaiste intends to visit it in the near future and that she has engaged in consultations with the various stakeholders. Since coming to office, she has given this matter her attention. As already stated, it is expected that a memorandum on the matter will be brought to Government in the near future.

I welcome the Minister of State's further clarification. Is he in a position to indicate whether he or the Tánaiste will visit the DIT's existing campuses? The staff and students who work and learn at these facilities are obliged to endure cramped, overcrowded conditions. They were promised, with much fanfare, that a new campus would be built at Grangegorman. As yet, neither a start date nor a completion date have been provided in respect of the construction of that new campus. Will the Minister of State instruct his officials to adopt a new sense of urgency in respect of delivering some type of proposal in respect of this matter in the coming months?

The Government would have been irresponsible if it had not taken account of the changed economic circumstances that have obtained during the past two years. As already stated, the revised plan takes account of the reduced prices that have materialised in the construction sector. It also revises the estimated value of the DIT's property portfolio to reflect current market trends. Circumstances have changed radically in the past two years. As a result, the factors to which I refer had to be taken into account and a revised plan had to be prepared. The plan, as with those relating to many other projects of the same scale, will be implemented in phases. The Tánaiste and I regularly visit institutes of technology.

As the Minister of State is aware, his late father, even in the most difficult of times and much to his credit, managed to push through development projects that were needed in this city and elsewhere. I put it to him that what is required is a Government commitment to allow the strategic development zone plan to proceed. I understand that a very quick form of planning applies in this regard and that, as a consequence, matters cannot proceed until the Government makes its decision.

It is crucial that the Government should make the decision to which I refer. I understand there is cross-party support for and consensus in respect of such a decision being made.

There would be no need to provide money up front in respect of that decision.

We could probably build then the campus on a piecemeal basis and over a longer period. However, it is crucial that the Government should make its decision as soon as possible.

A procedure is in place in respect of the preparation of the strategic development zone. Work on the planning scheme relating to the strategic development zone has been progressed by the agency. I note the Deputy's comments in that regard. There is no doubt that this is a major revitalisation project for the part of Dublin city to which it relates.

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