Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 April 2017
95. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of the €110 million that was provided under the capital plan for investment in third level sector facilities which has been spent; the number of third level projects which have received this funding; the number of third level projects that will receive funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18747/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2016-2021 Capital Plan provided direct Exchequer investment of €110m for the higher education sector, in addition to an existing allocation for the consolidation of the DIT campus at Grangegorman.
€21.5m of the €110m available for higher education under the Capital Plan was provided for disbursement in 2016. Following a reallocation of funding late last year, a further €10m was provided for capital projects in the higher education sector. This combined funding of €31.5m supported a total of 8 projects in the higher education sector, including, for example, the Glucksman Library in UL, the Confucius Institute in UCD and development of the Carriganore campus in Waterford IT. In addition, the Department distributed a devolved grant of €10m among the country's 14 Institutes of Technology, which funded urgent minor works and equipment renewal.
Much of the 2017 capital allocation for higher education will be required to deliver on existing commitments, including further funding tranches to the projects referenced above. The distribution of the remaining funds in future years will depend on a number of factors and this is being managed very carefully in consultation with the Higher Education Authority. As the Deputy can appreciate, there are many competing demands on the Department's higher education capital budget and any available funding will be considered in that context.
