Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A lot of assumptions are being made when councillors have not yet seen the plan. The site was purchased four years ago. The council has not been made aware of the situation and councillors have not been asked for their opinions. Councillors would usually be asked for their opinions regarding a material contravention if a project requires one and it looks to me as if the project in question will require a material contravention. Four years after the purchase of the site, councillors are not aware that the zoning will have to change from retail to institutional.

Before the purchase of the site, a figure was presented that a new build of the type the university wanted, built on a clear site, would cost €27 million. We are now hearing figures in excess of €100 million. One figure doing the rounds is €200 million to bring this to where we want it brought as a finished product. Is it correct that a figure of €27 million was suggested?