Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 April 2017
99. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of the €200 million funding for third level sector PPP projects that has been spent; the number of projects which have been initiated and completed respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18751/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn late 2016, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) commenced a consultation process to update and consolidate the information available in relation to priority capital projects in higher education institutions (HEIs). The process also provided HEIs with the opportunity to identify those projects which they wished to put forward for consideration as part of the forthcoming higher education PPP programme, for which €200 million funding is made available under the Capital Plan.
The responses from HEIs will provide the Department with an up to date and comprehensive understanding of the full scale of capital requirements across the sector over the coming years. They will also assist in identifying which projects will be prioritised for both PPP and Exchequer funding, in the event that future funding levels permit.
An assessment of the submissions from HEIs is currently underway. Governance arrangements for the PPP programme are currently being put in place, involving this Department, as well as the HEA and the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). It is envisaged that initial project selection will take place in the coming months.
